Sure, you all know that the iPod is now on its fifth generation and that the Macs are now getting Intel processors. But just how well do you know the Apple products? Just when you think you know enough to make a smart decision on an Apple purchase, something comes along to let you know that there are more to Apple products than meets the eye.

If you're out to make an Apple purchase, you might want to check out Designed in California beta - an Apple reference that documents 24,298 details of 299 Jobs-era Apple products. As stated in its "About" section brags, this Apple library "aims to be more detailed, more comprehensive and more searchable than existing databases".

As Designed in California is "in no way affiliated with Apple Computer", the team admits that there may be some errors and omissions. But you can still enjoy scanning the database for the following:

• All retail Mac models available in the US featuring G3, G4, G5 and Intel processors. Xserves are included; Server versions of Power Macs are not. Certain build-to-order, education and other special models are also included, but several are not.
• All models of display introduced on or after November 10, 1997. There is some confusion about the availability of Colorsync AV models, so currently they are excluded.
• All retail models of AirPort equipment and iPod.
• The introductory price of almost all models, plus many - but by no means all - price changes.
• Events in Apple's history concerning changes to the above models. Information about other events will be added later.

Designed in California will let you compare the five generations of six iPod models and the different Macs now out in the market. Standard and even disappearing features in Apple computers are also in display. News about Apple products can also be searched in this Apple database.

Check out the Designed in California database here.

Rumors circulated that Apple was going to introduce a new enclosure for its first Intel-based Mac Pro desktops. But according to AppleInsider, the Mac Pro will only sport a slightly modified casing from the Power Mac G5. People "in the know" claim the differences between the Mac Pro and Power Mac G5 casings is cosmetic - mainly the addition of a second optical disc drive slot on the face of the Mac Pro.

But the first Mac Pros will most probably ship with the additional optical disc drive slot and bay empty so users can choose to fit it with either a Blu-ray or HD-DVD drive. The other "cosmetic change" is that new Power Mac's power supply has been moved from the base of the unit to somewhere higher. At least that's what AppleInsider sources said.

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.

Intel is planning to deliver Woodcrest (the code-named successor to its Xeon server processor) this month, and sources at Apple confirm a July release the first Intel-based Xserve.

In the meantime, Apple's Power Mac systems are making the transition to Intel processors with the Core 2 Duo which has been code-named Conroe.  Intel is planning to make these processors available in July as well. Industry scuttlebutt has it that new pro systems will come out in conjunction with Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference, which takes place in early August.

If Apple follows through, it would not be the first time its Xserve has outdone the Power Mac performance-wise.  Apple started started shipping Xserve units with 2.3GHz Power PC G5 processors on the sly when the Power Mac still topped out at 2GHz.

On a related topic, Intel sources report that Merom, the laptop-friendly version of the Core 2 Duo, is still planned for an August release. A new MacBook Pro may arrive soon afterwards, depending on when Apple to install the new chip in its products.