|
Computer
Connections
May ’03
by Lloyd Prezant
• AirPort version
goes up
• IBM chips to Nvidia
• Orange Micro connects
• Toasting DVD's
• iPod has more juice
• AOL Voicemail
• IOXperts airs their drivers
June ’03
Edition
Lloyd Prezant
is a NYC computer consultant who
buys and sells
recent
used Mac computers and
their peripherals. Call him
at (718) 548-1623. |
AirPort version goes up
Apple has released
AirPort 3.0. This update will support the new AirPort Extreme hardware,
as well as older AirPort products. Two versions can
be had: one for Mac OS 10.2 (Jaguar) and higher, and another for OS
10.1.5. If you want to use AirPort to wirelessly network a printer,
you must
use OS 10.2.3 or higher. This software update supports internal Apple
AirPort cards. Users who have third-party cards can use them with the
AirPort networks, but should use the software that came with the devices.
More information and a list of supported printers can be found at the
AirPort Web site. www.apple.com/AirPort/
IBM chips to Nvidia
Graphics chip maker Nvidia Corp has
entered into a multi-year agreement with IBM to partner in manufacturing
its graphics chips. Their graphics
card processors are widely used in home and business computers, especially
Apple’s line of Macintosh computers. Till now, Nvidia chips were
made by TSMC, a Taiwanese company, and third-party card makers integrated
their technology into those computers. Now, with IBM, they not only have
a chip-maker, but a partner who will also help Nvidia make their graphics
cards. This gives them access to IBM’s copper technologies (ultra-small
and fast internal chip wiring) plus an automated management system that
provides better integration and distribution of their product. This collaboration
allows Nvidia to concentrate on their products and customers. The chips
and technology for Nvidia are slated to be done in IBM’s East
Fishkill, NY facility.
www.nvidia.com / www.ibm.com.
Orange Micro connects
Orange Micro Inc. now offers their Orange Combo Notebook Card, a
laptop expansion card that goes into the PC Card slot of Macintosh
and Windows
laptop computers. They will support USB 2.0 and FireWire standards.
The card includes: one 6-pin FireWire connector (for Mac), one 4-pin
FireWire
connector (for Windows) and, for peripherals that need USB power,
a power supply that supplies500 mA per USB port. System software
requirements
are Mac OS 10.2 or higher and an open 32-bit Type II Cardbus slot.
All laptops since the original PowerBook G3 are supported. Shipped
with the
card are drivers and editing software for Mac and Windows. List price
is $119. www.orangemicro.com
Toasting DVD’s
Roxio Inc. has updated
Toast, their CD and DVD recording software to version 5.2.1. Now you
can: burn at 4x speed using Pioneer-based
DVD-R
drives, have improved compatibility of VideoCD export using iMovie
3, and enjoy all the bug fixes that come with a version update.
Especially noteworthy is a VideoCD export feature that lets users
with a CD-R
recorder
and iMovie 3 burn movies to disc that can be read by compatible
home and computer DVD players. This is a great feature, and cheaper
(for
now) than buying a DVD recorder. Download this update from the
Web site if
you have Toast Titanium 5.0 or higher. www.roxio.com/en/support/toast/software_updatesv5.jhtml.
iPod has more juice
Apple informs us of an iPod Software update, v.1.2.6, now on their
Web site. It is a must-have for all iPod users; it improves power
management
for longer battery life. The problem was that the iPod would note
a decreased voltage from the battery and consider it discharged,
even though there
was enough power left to operate the iPod for more time. Installing
the update will insure users a more accurate management of battery
power.
They will enjoy longer playback time, and extend standby time to
up to 10 days on a full charge. Separate downloads are available
for OS X,
OS 9 and Windows operating systems on the Apple Web site.
www.apple.com/iPod/download
AOL Voicemail
America Online Inc. is introducing AOL Voicemail. This will operate
like services that telecom carriers offer. Users can still
choose to dial
a number to access their voice mail as before (AOLbyPhone),
but now can combine e-mail functions without dialing. AOL will
let
users
retrieve
voice mail messages from their IN boxes by accessing messages
that will have attached sound €les. After the streamed voice messages
are listened
to, they can be forwarded. Up to seven voice mail boxes are
available for big families or of€ces. This new service combines
AOL’s Call
Alert function that lets users monitor incoming calls while online with
AOL’s AOLbyPhone, their stand-alone voice mail service.
Call Alert includes a caller log that maintains a list of the last
100 calls received. While subscribing to Call Alert is $4 per month
and AOL By Phone is
$5 per month, users can purchase both by getting AOL Voicemail service
for $5.95 (such a deal!). Use this new service combination with
AOL 5.0
or higher (Mac)
or AOL 7.0 or higher (Windows).
www.aol.com
IOXperts airs their drivers
IOXperts brings us v.1.0.2 of its 802.11b (wireless network protocol)
driver for Mac OS 9. This driver allows Apple PowerBook laptop computers
containing
one of more than 60 unique wireless networking cards to work on a
wireless network. This update has some bug €xes and adds the “Short Preamble” feature
that improves streaming audio and video transmission. These drivers
support 64- and 128-bit WEP as well as AppleTalk. Get these drivers
for $19.95
and use with
a single card. You are licensed to the Mac address of that registered
card only!
www.ioxperts.com.
|
