MacRumors

DailyTech reports that Gateway jumped the gun by announcing information about new laptops based on the Intel Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) Core Solo -- ahead of Intel's official announcement.

The NX100 from Gateway features Intel Ultra Low Voltage Core Solo processors. These Yonah-based processors come in at 1.06GHz and 1.2GHz speeds with a 533MHz bus and 2MB of L2 cache. The specs for the Gateway notebook show a 12.1" screen, 0.8inch thickness, 3lbs and will start at $1399. CNet Video review.

The ULV Core Solo is said to be announced around April 16th.

There has been previous speculation about the processor Apple plans on using in the upcoming Intel-iBook. Apple is presently using the high end Core Duo processor for the MacBook Pro. This leaves a broad range of possibilities left for the iBook, including slow clocked Core Duos, Core Solo processors and Low Voltage Core Duos. The Ultra Low Voltage Core Solo processor featured in the Gateway machine appears to be targeted for "ultraportable" laptops -- a category in which Apple does not presently have a offering.

This week marked the beginning on the trial of Apple Computer vs. the Beatle's Apple Corps record label. The lawsuit originally reported in 2003 surrounds Apple Computer's move into the music arena with the iPod and iTunes Music Store. The Beatle's Apple Corps record label was established first in 1968 and has previously filed lawsuits against Apple Computer about possible confusion between the two corporate trademarks.

Apple Computer reportedly last paid Apple Corps $26.5 million in 1991 and established a contract on allowed use of the Apple Computer trademark. According to Apple's lawyers, digital distribution of music such as the iTunes music store was explicitly allowed under the terms of the agreement.

A lawyer for Apple Computer dismissed the claim of corporate confusion and stated that "even a moron in a hurry could not be mistaken about that".

The current presiding judge is reported to be "computer-literate" and own both a Mac (with iLife) and an iPod.

Macsimumnews.com summarizes an Apple filing with the European Patent Office, under the name "Audio system, loudspeaker and method of operation thereof".

The patent, accompanied by drawings, describes a speaker system used in combination with a "computing device" that controls loudspeakers to provide the effect of having five speakers when there are in fact only two. The other three are "virtual speakers". The "computing device" could be a computer located in the interior of a speaker.

"Measurement devices", with a wireless microphone given as an example, provide feedback information to the computing device in the form of sound samples so it can make further adjustments to hit the "sound sweet spot".

The listener can use a handheld device and a screen display to monitor and control the system.

Although this is a patent for an "invention" and not an actual product, it is in keeping with Apple's push into home entertainment products such as Front Row, the Apple Remote, and the iPod Hi-Fi.

Final Cut Studio 5.1, consisting of Final Cut Pro 5, Soundtrack Pro, Motion 2, and DVD Studio Pro 4, is now available as a Universal application, native on both Intel and PowerPC Macs.

New copies of Final Cut Studio 5.1 cost $1,299 USD. Upgrade pricing (from Apple's crossgrade page): $699 upgrade from Final Cut Pro 1, Final Cut Pro 2, or Final Cut Pro 3; $199 upgrade from Final Cut Pro 4 or HD, Motion 2, Soundtrack Pro, DVD Studio Pro 4, or Production Suite; $99 upgrade from Final Cut Pro 5; $49 upgrade from Final Cut Studio.

Apple's pro media applications have been packaged as Final Cut Studio since Final Cut Pro 5 was announced in April last year.

Final Cut Express HD is not yet Universal. According to the online Apple Store, "The next feature release of Final Cut Express will be a Universal application, which will run natively on both PowerPC- and Intel-based Mac computers."

Now available via software update:

iPod Updater 2006-03-23 delivers:

New iPod Software 1.1.1 for iPod
New iPod Software 1.1.1 for iPod nano
For all other iPod models, iPod Updater 2006-03-23 contains the same software versions as iPod Updater 2006-01-10.

Important: After downloading the iPod Updater software, connect your iPod to your computer and launch the iPod Updater application. If iPod Updater determines that your iPod needs to be updated, click the Update button to install the latest software on your iPod.

Features of iPod Software 1.1.1 for iPod and iPod Software 1.1.1 for iPod nano:

Volume limit
Bug fixes
For more information on volume limit, go to http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303414.

This update allows users to set a maximum volume limit on 5th generation iPods and iPod nanos. It also allows for parents to set a maximum volume limit on their children's iPods, and password-protect that change with combination code.

arstechnica notes that Apple has boosted the specifications for the 30" Cinema Display.

The Cinema Display's brightness, which was originally 270 cd/m2, has now been upgraded to 400 cd/2. The screen's contrast ratio has also been bumped up from 400:1 to 700:1.

Pricing for the 30" Apple Cinema Display has not changed - pricing remains USD$2499.

A SFGate blog reports that Apple has confirmed that Avie Tevanian will be leaving Apple at the end of March to "pursue other interests".

Avie Tevanian currently holds the position of Chief Software Technology Officer at Apple and was previously the vice president of Engineering at NeXT. Tevanian was one of the principal designers and engineers of the Mach operating system on which NEXTSTEP and subsequently Mac OS X were based.

Tevanian had previously been rumored to have been leaving Apple in 2001.

While Apple leads the list of Businessweek's Top Corporate Performers, the magazine points out that Apple was not in such great shape only a few years ago, and gives some interesting perspective as Apple looks towards the future.

"Oh, the company was going bankrupt, all right," recalls ex-board member Edgar S. Woolard Jr. But in mid-1997, Woolard called Steven P. Jobs and asked him to retake the helm of the company Jobs had co-founded in 1976. In short order, Jobs tightened up operations, re-energized Apple's talented troops, and in 2001 oversaw the debut of a magical little device called the iPod.

While many feel Apple's focus has shifted towards the iPod, analysts claim the Mac will continue to be a very important piece in the coming years. While the iPod is a large portion of Apple's sales, they point out the PC business remains a larger target, and if Apple can achieve gains in marketshare in that arena, they could grow considerably over the next few years.

Again, the usual possibilities are trotted out -- some more likely that others. The potential to run Windows along-side Mac OS X continues to be cited as a huge incentive for many reluctant switches to make the leap to the Mac. Meanwhile, the often mentioned possibility of Apple finally licensing Mac OS X to other PC manufacturers is again raised. And the articles reports that "Multiple PC makers have expressed an interest [in licensing Mac OS X for PCs]. It's not just Dell."

ThinkSecret details a number of new Apple retail stores that have opened in 2006 as well as a number that are planned to still open before the end of the current fiscal year.

These include a prominent new Manhattan location as well as a number of international locations including Japan, Canada, England, and Italy.

The midtown Manhattan location was previously reported to be a new "flagship" location that will be open 24-hours a day.

ThinkSecret also posted photos of the unique store.

MacOSXRumors claims that according to "reliable sources", Apple is developing virtualization software to be incorporated into the next version of Mac OS X - Leopard.

According to the rumor site, the upcoming software is code named "Chameleon" and is being developed alongside both Intel and Microsoft.

Virtualization software would potentially allow users to run alternative operating systems alongside Mac OS X. There has been previous discussion about Virtualization Technology support in Intel's processors.
Microsoft has been reported as being committed to porting Virtual PC to the Intel Macs, but early claims indicated that Apple had "yet to provide developers with the deep hooks needed for such virtualization." This rumor would suggest that such support may not arrive until Mac OS X 10.5 , Leopard, which is expected to be first demoed at WWDC in August.

While Booting Windows XP on Intel Macs is now possible, many users look forward to using a virtual Windows XP environment alongside Mac OS X. This sort of side-by-side existence would prevent the need for rebooting to use a particular application.

MacCentral posts a detailed walkthrough of an experience installing Windows XP on a Intel Mac mini.

The article gives a good overview of the process and some potential pitfalls during the installation, as well as ongoing driver issues.

In short, this is very new technology, and things can still go very wrong with the process. If you have but one Mac, and you rely on it to make a living, I would not recommend installing Windows XP on it just yet. Over time, the process should get easier and safer, but as of today, its still highly experimental.

MacCentral also ran some early Photoshop benchmarks, and plans on more extensive testing.Forum members can discuss their own experiences in our Windows on Mac forum.

News.com's Apple Blog posted quotes from Deborah Conrad -- vice president and directory of "Team Apple" at Intel. This group was reported to be formed back in November to help Apple with their transition to Intel chips. Such a dedicated team is reportedly not uncommon for large customers of Intel.

So, Conrad's team, works closely with Apple on use of Intel technology. When questioned about whether or not Apple was planning on using Intel chips inside the iPod, Conrad states that we aren't "going to see anything soon". However, she did hint that there may be some exciting progress in future gadgets:

But when it comes to future gadgets other than the iPod, "that's where we get very, very excited."

Unfortunately, the context of the quote is a bit unclear, but suggests Apple has more "gadgets" in the works.

CNN reports that Universal Pictures and Lovefilm are launching the "world's first download-to-own movie service" in Britain next month.

The new service will allow people to download the latest movies on their laptops, home computers or handheld devices. Unlike existing rental services, this new service will allow users to own the movies.

Online downloads will be offered starting at midnight on the day of the DVD release. Users will receive 3 different formats for the movie. Two downloadable digital files will be available for either your PC or handheld video device. In addition, the DVD is also sent to the user in the mail.

The pricing will be tiered between 9.99 ($17.50) and 19.99 ($35). Older movies will cost less while new movies will carry a premium.

There is no word on the digital rights management format that will be used. Apple has been rumored to be working on their own download movie service. The first of these movies was posted on iTunes for $9.99 for a 320x240 resolution movie. Unless Universal has been specifically working with Apple, it is unlikely that their new movie service will work on the iPod due to digital rights management restrictions.
Update: Reuters clarifies that the service does use Microsoft's DRM. So, these video files will not work on the iPod.

ITWeek and others are reporting that Dell has acquired PC maker Alienware. Alienware is a maker of high-end gaming and multimedia PC systems and will reportedly continue to operate as an independent subsidiary.

Alienware specialises in high performance computers that differentiate themselves through design. Dell, meanwhile, has become synonymous with basic, inexpensive boxes.

An early blog post hinting at the deal from Voodoo PC's president suggested that Apple's recent entry into the Intel computer market has increased pressure on Dell to differentiate themselves:

With the recent Intel/Apple relationship its clear that 15% (or whatever) of the consumer space for Dell may not be enough. Apple is likely to go to 8% with the help of Intel over the next year or so. The PC gaming market is threatening Dells perceived technology leadership and ultimately the consumer space. The Alienware brand is cooler than Dell, and perhaps a likely candidate for Dell to take over based on size alone.

Meanwhile, early benchmarks of the MacBook Pro running Windows XP showed that the MacBook Pro performed very well compared to other Core Duo PCs.

Smarthouse.com.au reports that according to insiders at a Taiwanese phone maker (BenQ), Apple has been talking to a number of Taiwanese phone makers in an effort to cut a manufacturing deal on an iPod Phone.

They say that Apple will launch an iPod with phone functions within the next few months. "An iPod phone is definitely coming. BenQ will not be making it as we are in competition with Apple however several of our suppliers have been approached to manufacture parts. Among manufacturers in Taiwan it is common knowledge."

Rumors of a new Apple-branded phone have recently been flooding analyst reports.

Historically, in 2003 Smarthouse previously claimed that Apple would be moving to Intel-based Macs by January of 2004. The report was one of many Apple-moving-to-Intel rumors that appeared over the years, so its unclear if it was accurate (but premature) or simply coincidental. Apple, of course, did eventually announce that they would be transitioning to Intel based processors, but not until June of 2005.