| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Feb-01-2007
11:00 AM EST
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Apple working on hot unpluggable iPods Apple is looking to make it possible for iPod users to plug and then unplug their players from their PCs on the fly.
The Cupertino-based company in October filed for patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office titled "Hot unpluggable media storage device."
Published for the first time on Thursday, the filing lays out improved techniques for rendering a peripheral -- such as an iPod or iPhone -- removable from a host computer without the user first having to perform preparatory unmounting actions through software.
"In effect, the peripheral device can be automatically prepared for removal in the event that its user removes (unplugs) it from its host computer," Apple explained in the filing.
The invention calls for devices with their own means of data storage -- such as iPods -- to be mounted to a file system of the host computer when the host computer desires access, but otherwise to be "normally unmounted so that if the peripheral device were to be removed (e.g., unplugged) no harm or damage to data stored therein would occur."
For instance, an iPod would be accessible to the host computer during synchronization but then unmounted once synchronization has completed. "Such synchronization can be achieved in a sophisticated manner through comparison of media information" stored on both the player and the host computer, Apple said.
"After the media-based processing has been performed, the media device is logically disconnected from the file system of the host computer," the company went on to explain. "In one embodiment, this involves an 'unmounting' of the storage device of the media device from the file system of the host computer. At this point, although logically disconnected, the media device remains attached (e.g., physically connected) to the host computer."
Apple said its detection solution would effectively run a loop that periodically bounces data to determine whether the media device has been physically detached from the host computer.
"When the decision determines that the media device has been detached, then the media device processing is complete and ends as the media device has been physically detached from the host computer and thus no longer communicates with or is accessible by the host computer," the filing states. "On the other hand, when the decision determines that the media device has not been detached from the host computer, then a decision determines whether access to the media device is needed."
Apple said the invention can be implemented in software, hardware or a combination of the two. It could also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium such as read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs, magnetic tape, optical data storage devices, and carrier waves.
"One advantage of the invention is that peripheral devices, e.g., media devices, are able to be 'hot' unpluggable without data loss or corruption," Apple wrote. "Another advantage of the invention is that peripheral devices can have 'plug-and-play' as well as 'remove-and-go' characteristics which better satisfies user needs and usage."
Presently, iPod users must first prepare their players to be disconnected from their computers by unmounting them through iTunes or system software.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Aug-17-2006
10:35 PM EST
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Apple's report on iPod manufacturing Report on iPod Manufacturing
August 17, 2006
Like many of you, we were concerned by reports in the press a few weeks ago alleging poor working and living conditions at a manufacturing facility in China where iPods are assembled. Our Supplier Code of Conduct mandates that suppliers of Apple products follow specific rules designed to safeguard human rights, worker health and safety, and the environment. We take any deviation from these rules very seriously.
In response to the allegations, we immediately dispatched an audit team comprised of members from our human resources, legal and operations groups to carry out a thorough investigation of the conditions at the manufacturing site. The audit covered the areas of labor standards, working and living environment, compensation, overtime and worker treatment. The team interviewed over 100 randomly selected employees representing a cross-section of line workers (83%), supervisors (9%), executives (5%), and other support personnel (3%) including security guards and custodians. They visited and inspected factory floors, dormitories, dining halls, and recreation areas. The team also reviewed thousands of documents including personnel files, payroll data, time cards, and security logs. In total, the audit spanned over 1200 person-hours and covered over one million square feet of facilities.
To ensure the accuracy of the investigation, the team cross-referenced multiple sources of information from employees, management and personnel records. For example, working hours and overtime reported in the interviews were corroborated with line-shift reports, badge reader logs, and payroll records of those specific individuals to confirm that they were paid appropriately.
We found the supplier to be in compliance in the majority of the areas audited. However, we did find violations to our Code of Conduct, as well as other areas for improvement that we are working with the supplier to address. What follows is a summary of what we’ve learned, what’s already being done in response, and our commitment to future diligence and action.
Labor Standards
The team reviewed personnel files and hiring practices and found no evidence whatsoever of the use of child labor or any form of forced labor. This review included examining security records targeted at discovering false identification papers — an important check for companies serious about preventing illegal employment of any kind.
Working and Living Environment
The manufacturing facility supports over 200,000 employees (Apple uses less than 15% of that capacity) and has the services you’d expect in a medium city. The campus includes factories, employee housing, banks, a post office, a hospital, supermarkets, and a variety of recreational facilities including soccer fields, a swimming pool, TV lounges and Internet cafes. Ten cafeterias are also located throughout the campus offering a variety of menu choices such as fresh vegetables, beef, seafood, rice, poultry, and stir-fry noodles. In addition, employees have access to 13 different restaurants on campus. Employees were pleased with the variety and quality of food offerings.
The supplier owns and leases dormitories that are offered at no charge to employees, provided they help in cleaning common areas to maintain the facility. Workers are not required to live in these dormitories, although the majority do. Our team randomly selected and inspected a wide range of dormitories (both supplier-owned on-campus and off-site leased facilities) that collectively house over 32,000 people. Buildings are separated by gender, with female dorms containing a private bathroom/shower for each room and male dorm rooms typically sharing bathroom/shower facilities. The dorms have TV rooms, potable water, private lockers, free laundry service, and public telephones. Many also have ping-pong and snooker tables, and sitting/reading areas. All of the on-campus dorms have air conditioning. Visitors are permitted in the dorms, although a sign-in process is used for security purposes.
Our audit of on-site dormitories found no violations of our Code of Conduct. We were not satisfied, however, with the living conditions of three of the off-site leased dorms that we visited. These buildings were converted by the supplier during a period of rapid growth and have served as interim housing. Two of the dormitories, originally built as factories, now contain a large number of beds and lockers in an open space, and from our perspective, felt too impersonal. The third contained triple-bunks, which in our opinion didn’t provide reasonable personal space.
To address this interim housing situation, the supplier acquired additional land and is currently building new dormitories. These plans were in place prior to our audit, and will increase the total living space by 46% during the next four months.
Compensation
Our investigation confirmed that all workers earn at least the local minimum wage, and our sample audit of payroll records showed that more than half were earning above minimum wage. Employees also have the opportunity to earn bonuses. In addition, the supplier provides a comprehensive medical plan including free annual checkups.
We did find, however, that the pay structure was unnecessarily complex. An employee’s wage was comprised of several elements (base pay, skill bonus, attendance bonus, housing allowance, meal allowance, overtime), making it difficult to understand and communicate to employees. This structure effectively failed to meet our Code of Conduct requirement that how workers are paid must be clearly conveyed. The supplier has since implemented a simplified pay structure that meets the Code of Conduct.
We also discovered that the process for reporting overtime was manual and monthly, and while not a violation of the Code of Conduct, it was subject to human error and relied too much on memory for dispute resolution. To address this issue, the supplier will link the payroll system and electronic badge system, which will automate the recording of hours worked and pay calculations. This update will be completed by October 1.
Overtime
We found no instances of forced overtime and employees confirmed in interviews that they could decline overtime requests without penalty. We did, however, find that employees worked longer hours than permitted by our Code of Conduct, which limits normal workweeks to 60 hours and requires at least one day off each week. We reviewed seven months of records from multiple shifts of different productions lines and found that the weekly limit was exceeded 35% of the time and employees worked more than six consecutive days 25% of the time. Although our Code of Conduct allows overtime limit exceptions in unusual circumstances, we believe in the importance of a healthy work-life balance and found these percentages to be excessive.
The supplier has enacted a policy change to enforce the weekly overtime limits set by our Code of Conduct. The policy change has been communicated to supervisors and employees and a management system has been implemented to track compliance with the Code of Conduct. Supervisors must receive approval from upper level management for any deviation.
Worker Treatment
Employees work in factories that are generally bright, clean and modern with air-conditioned assembly line areas, and are provided with protective gear. There’s an employee grievance process in place, including a telephone hotline, a CEO mailbox for complaints and employee suggestion boxes.
Our interviews with employees revealed areas of both satisfaction and dissatisfaction. A majority of employees interviewed were pleased with the work environment and specifically noted the opportunity for advancement, widespread year-end bonuses, and the reputation of the supplier in the industry. Additionally, employees consistently mentioned that they felt safe and secure in both the workplace and the dormitories.
Employees expressed dissatisfaction with some aspects of the workplace. The single largest complaint (approximately 20% of interviewed workers) was the lack of overtime during non-peak periods. The second largest complaint (less than 10%) was the transportation schedule for employees living in off-campus dorms, which they felt was inadequate outside of working hours. Results of the interviews have been shared with management, and will be addressed where appropriate. For example, the transportation schedule is being reviewed for adjustment.
During our interviews with employees, we explicitly asked every line worker whether they had ever been subjected to or witnessed objectionable disciplinary punishment. Two employees reported that they had been disciplined by being made to stand at attention. While we did not find this practice to be widespread, Apple has a zero tolerance policy for any instance, isolated or not, of any treatment of workers that could be interpreted as harsh. The supplier has launched an aggressive manager and employee training program to ensure such behavior does not occur in the future.
The Future
Recognizing that some aspects of workplace auditing (such as health and safety) lie beyond our current expertise, we’ve engaged the services of Verité, an internationally recognized leader in workplace standards dedicated to ensuring that people around the world work under safe, fair and legal conditions. We are committed to ensuring compliance with our Code of Conduct and will complete audits of all final assembly suppliers of Mac and iPod products in 2006.
We recognize that monitoring compliance is an ongoing process requiring continual progress reviews. When violations are discovered in any supplier, we will require corrective action plans, with a focus on prevention and systemic solutions. We will also ensure that action plans are implemented and in cases where a supplier’s efforts in this area do not meet our expectations, their contracts will be terminated.
We are encouraged with the actions to date in response to our audit. However, we realize that auditing compliance is only one step in the journey toward driving change. We have also joined the Electronic Industry Code of Conduct (EICC) Implementation Group, which has established industry-wide standards and offers valuable resources for evaluating suppliers. The EICC was a key benchmark when our own Code of Conduct was created and as an industry leader, Apple will make important contributions to this group.
Apple is committed to the highest standard of social responsibility in everything we do and will always take necessary action accordingly. We are dedicated to ensuring that working conditions are safe and employees are treated with respect and dignity wherever Apple products are made.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Jun-14-2005
08:00 PM EST
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Stanford posts transcript and video of Jobs' speech Several readers have pointed out that Stanford University has now posted both a text transcript and video excerpt (right sidebar) from Apple chief executive Steve Jobs' commencement address on June 12, 2005. During the speech, Jobs said: "When I was 17 I read a quote that went something like, "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "no" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something."
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
May-09-2005
06:00 PM EST
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New photos show progress at Midtown Apple store site Following a series of Macklowe Properties file photos that appeared on internet last month, tipsters have passed along a more recent set of images taken from the construction site of Apple's forthcoming Midtown, Manhattan Apple retail store. The photos reveal the basic structure of the space in the underground concourse of the General Motors building at 767 Fifth Avenue. A sub-basement also appears to be present in the photos, with two adjacent stairwells leading further underground.
Apple Store Midtown Construction
Open image in new window for larger view.  1 2 3 4 5 (AppleInsider Photo/ File)
Come this fall, a glass cube 32 by 32 by 32 feet will be set atop the Apple retail store, in the the middle of the plaza of the GM building. Inside the cube will be a circular glass stairway and a cylindrical elevator leading to the 25,000-square-foot underground space.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
May-09-2005
10:55 AM EST
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iPod vending machine Apple Computer claims to have over 21,000 distribution points for its iPod digital music player and growing. Here's the 21,001st: a vending machine located at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport in Georgia.
With a swipe of your credit card, the Zoom Shop machine -- also stocking batteries, digital cameras, and other photo accessories -- will be willing to serve up an iPod mini or shuffle. And the best part: there's no checkout lines or pesky Apple sales staff pushing you to invest in an AppleCare extended warranty.
 (flickr photo/ File)
A similar machine has also been spotted at San Francisco International Airport, with several others likely located at other major airports throughout the United States.
At one point Apple had hinted that its mini retail store concept may make a nice fit for airport terminals and busy international rail stations. But we had no idea they'd be able to shrink the stores into staff-less 6-foot wide space.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Apr-27-2005
03:00 PM EST
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Apple slips, posts Tiger launch graphics on Apple.com two days early Things just aren't going Apple's way this week. The latest company blunder took place around 2:30 eastern time today, when an employee inadvertently updated the main Apple.com web page with graphics planned for Friday's launch of Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger."
Tiger is "In Stores Now," a graphic on Apple's main page read for few minutes on Wednesday. The page was reverted back to its current state after the company became aware of the mishap.
Judging by the images that appeared, Apple.com on Friday evening will return to its original layout (white background, and rounded preview graphics). A dynamic splash screen marked by a large "X" will alternately highlight some of Tiger's most anticipated features including Dashboard, Spotlight, iChat AV, Automator, QuickTiime 7 and Safari.
Over the past week, Apple has entered into a spat with a major book publisher over an unauthorized biography of company CEO Steve Jobs, seen Amazon.com leak the specs of new Power Mac models a day early, and watched catalog resellers violate an embargo on pre-mature shipments of Tiger to customers.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Apr-26-2005
08:00 AM EST
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Photo shows new Power Mac G5 palette shipments Following an earlier report that new Apple Power Macs have begun making their way to company retail stores, a source provided the below photo (edited) showing how Apple is shipping the units.
The Power Macs are arriving on palettes that have been covered in dark plastic to conceal the contents. However, as hinted yesterday, multiple sources are now indicating that Apple plans to announce the units tomorrow (Wednesday).
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Apr-22-2005
09:00 AM EST
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First copies of Mac OS X Tiger ship (Updated) Apple on Friday began shipping Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, the next version of its Mac OS X operating system. Although Tiger will not officially launched until April 29th, one MacNN.com reader provided the publication with a shipment confirmation from the Apple Store. The document showed a delivery date of April 25 via Fedex Ground--well ahead of the official release date next week. MacNN says orders with expedited shipping may have earlier delivery dates.
Update: At least two AppleInsider readers claim to have already received their copies of Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger" this Thursday.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Apr-16-2005
10:00 AM EST
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Apple releases Mac OS X 10.3.9 Apple on Friday evening released Mac OS X 10.3.9, likely the final update to its Mac OS X 10.3 "Panther" operating system. According to Apple, the 10.3.9 Update, recommended for all users, delivers overall improved compatibility and reliability for Mac OS X v10.3 "Panther", including improvements to file sharing and directory services reliability for mixed Mac and PC networks; Mail, Safari and Stickies application reliability; compatibility for third-party applications and devices; and previous standalone security updates. It is available via the Software Update Control Panel.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Apr-11-2005
12:00 PM EST
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Photos show Midtown Manhattan Apple store construction site A series of recent Macklowe Properties file photos show the ground-breaking and construction efforts outside 767 Fifth Ave, the site of the General Motors building that will eventually host a massive Apple retail store in its underground concourse.
Apple Store Midtown Construction
Open image in new window for larger view.  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (Macklowe Properties Photo/ File)
The realtor had previously posted to its Web site renderings depicting the 32-foot glass cube that will lead to the underground Apple retail store, but has since edited the images to mask any and all views of the structure. An unedited copy of the rendering remains available in a previous AppleInsider article.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Apr-05-2005
05:00 PM EST
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Apple Japan launches Apple Store Mobile It's happening. Before you can use your mobile phone to purchase and download CD-quality audio tracks, you can use it to log on to the Apple online store and purchase an iPod for yourself or a friend...if you're in Japan.
Today Apple Japan quietly launched the Apple Store Mobile, a version of its online store that it has made accessible from Japanese mobile phones.
The Web site address is only accessible when connecting from certain mobile handsets in Japan and disallows access to traditional Web browsers.
In addition to offering mobile customers the full array of iPod digital music players, reports indicate the mobile store is also selling iPod accessories and the Mac mini.
It would seem likely that Apple would launch a similar service for US-based mobile phones in the near future. However, it appears the company has its hands full inking revenue-share agreements with mobile carriers so that Motorola can launch its iTunes-compatible handset.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Mar-23-2005
02:15 PM EST
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Apple offers developers new Panther, Tiger builds According to several Web reports, Apple this week seeded new builds of both Mac OS X 10.3.9 Panther Update and Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. The latest build of Mac OS X 10.3.9, rumored to be 7W82, reportedly includes an official list of feature enhancements. Apple typically only includes this feature listing when development is winding down. It's expected that Mac OS X 10.3.9 will be released to the public in a matter of weeks, or days. Likewise, it appears that Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger is approaching final candidate status. Expected for release in early April, Web reports indicate that Tiger is now at build 8A420. The next-generation Mac operating system is slated to reach Gold Master status in about a week.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Mar-23-2005
10:00 AM EST
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Amazon offers $35 off Mac OS X "Tiger" pre-orders (Updated) Tipsters have recently noted that Amazon.com is offering a $35 rebate on all pre-orders of Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger (single license version), reducing the cost from $129.99 down to $94.99. Additionally, the online retailer is offering $50 Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger Family Pack, which allows users to install the operating system on up to 5 Macintosh computers. According to Amazon, only purchases made between Jan. 9 and May 31, 2005 qualify for the discount. Further details and a printable copy of the rebate are available here.
Update: It appears that, for unknown reasons, Apple has once again asked Amazon to disable Mac OS X Tiger pre-orders. Amazon has also removed the associated rebate info.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Feb-27-2005
03:00 PM EST
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iPod Camera Connector revealed at Apple briefing Representatives from Apple Japan on Friday held a press briefing on the company's new iPod offerings, a couple of tipsters have told AppleInsider. The presentation included a keynote slide with (what appears to be) a photo of Apple’s new iPod Camera Connector.
The device, which was previously described by Apple vice president Greg Joswiak, looks like a small port convertor, approximately 2-inch is length and an inch or so in width. It connects to the base of the iPod photo through the Dock connector. On the other end is a female USB port for connecting a digital camera. The iPod Camera Connector is expected to be available in late March for $29.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Feb-23-2005
04:00 PM EST
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Apple to acquire TiVo? TiVo Inc. shares jumped more than 17 percent on Wednesday, fueled by speculation that Apple might make a try to buy the digital video recorder maker, Reuters is reporting. "What we hear on the street is that Apple is interested in their business and that they are a takeout target," said analyst Steven Kroll Jr. of Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co. "TiVo's chief executive, Michael Ramsay, has said the company is not for sale. But with a market capitalization of only $300 million, analysts figure the company might be an easy target, perhaps from consumer electronics makers to media companies looking to bolster their video services."
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Jan-25-2005
07:00 PM EST
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Apple releases Security Update 2005-001 Apple on Tuesday evening released Security Update 2005-001, which delivers a number of security enhancements and is recommended for all Macintosh users.
The software is available through Software Update or from Apple's download site and includes updates to the following components: at commands, ColorSync, libxml2, Mail, PHP, and Safari.
Full details of the release are available from Apple's security web site.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Jan-13-2005
12:00 AM EST
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David Letterman previews 'iPod micro' On Wednesday's episode of "The Late Show with David Letterman," talk show host David Letterman performed a brief, but entertaining segment on Apple's iPod digital music players.
In the segment, which took place shortly after his monolog, Letterman held an original iPod in-hand while proclaiming that the 'iPod people' are a bunch of 'geniuses.'
Letterman later whipped out what appeared to be an iPod shuffle that had been severed in half, just below the navigation controls. Apple is calling this new player "iPod micro," he joked. "It holds... [pause] ...one song!"
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Jan-11-2005
04:15 PM EST
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Macworld: Apple posts stream of Macworld keynote address For those Apple fans interested in viewing Apple chief executive Steve Jobs' Macworld keynote, which took place earlier today, the wait is over. The feed has been posted.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Jan-04-2005
09:00 AM EST
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Price cuts make Cinema Displays more affordable True to previously published AppleInsider reports, Apple today reduced the price of all three of its flat panel Cinema Display offerings.
The 20-inch Cinema Display now fetches a mere $999, while the company's high definition 23-inch and 30-inch displays dropped to $1799 and $2999, respectively.
The price cuts represent a $300 reduction at the high and low end of the product line, along with a $200 markdown for the mid-range 23-inch display.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Dec-20-2004
07:00 PM EST
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Apple Xsan debut delayed till 2005 In a statement provided to CNet News.com on Monday, Apple Computer said it will miss the deadline for shipping its Xsan storage management software.
The software was scheduled to go on sale by Monday, the last day of autumn, the company had previously said.
"Xsan will not ship this year; it will ship early next year," Apple said in Monday's statement. The company refused to comment on the source of the delay.
Xsan was announced in April and has remained in a testing phase ever since.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Dec-20-2004
04:00 PM EST
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Apple releases AirPort software updates Apple Computer today released AirPort Express Firmware Update 6.1.1 and AirPort Extreme Firmware 5.5.1.
AirPort Express Firmware Update 6.1.1 features improvements to the AirPort's hard reset behavior, the reliability of WDS networks when using WPA security, and passive FTP. The update also fixes an issue with certain printers which were no longer recognized by the base station after the 6.1 firmware update was installed.
AirPort Extreme Firmware Update 5.1.1 resolves a potential problem with PPPoE configurations when updating from 5.4 or earlier. Additionally, the update features all of the improvements available from the (above) AirPort Extreme Firmware updater.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Dec-02-2004
04:00 PM EST
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Apple releases Security Update 2004-12-02 Apple Computer on Thursday released Security Update 2004-12-02, an update to its Mac OS X Jaguar and Panther operating systems that delivers a number of security enhancements.
The update is recommended for all Macintosh users and includes revisions to the following components: Apache, AppKit, HIToolbox, Kerberos, Postfix, PSNormalizer, Safari and Terminal.
Mac OS X users may download the update from Apple's Web site or through the build-in Mac OS X Software Update mechanism.
More detailed information on this Update is available from the Apple Knowledge Base article.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Nov-12-2004
03:00 PM EST
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2.5 GHz Power Mac "coming soon" to Best Buy online Apple Computer plans to make its high-end professional dual 2.5 GHz liquid cooled Power Mac G5 available for purchase from Best Buy's online store prior to the holiday shopping season, AppleInsider has learned.
An existing page on the Best Buy Web site reads, "From our expanded online assortment; not available in all Best Buy retail stores." A graphic on the page claims the product is "coming soon."
Best Buy's online store currently carries a large assortment of Apple products, but had not previously offered products from Apple's Power Mac line of computers.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Nov-09-2004
11:00 AM EST
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Analysts raise Apple, iPod projections for the quarter Following an AppleInsider report that projects Apple to surpass $3 billion in revenue this quarter on sales of nearly 4 million iPods, Merrill Lynch analyst Steven Milunovich has once again lifted his projections for the company.
Milunovich overnight raised his projections for unit sales of Apple's iPods to 3.5 million in the December quarter, up from the 2.68 million figure he provided in late October. Milunovich also lifted estimates for revenue in the quarter to $3.2 billion from $2.9 billion, projecting earnings per share at 45 cents.
"Whereas the older generation still thinks it strange to own a Mac, the younger generation may consider Apple a core brand for their digital lifestyle. That would allow the company to introduce successful new consumer products over time."
Milunovich now targets Apple's stock price at $61 a share.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Nov-04-2004
11:00 AM EST
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Apple seeds Tiger Server A8297, Mac OS X 10.3.6 7R28 Apple Computer last evening seeded its developers with Mac OS X 10.4 Server "Tiger" build A8297. The 1.6GB DVD image distribution marks the first time that Apple has offered Tiger Server to its Apple Developer Connection (ADC) members.
The company also seeded both Mac OS X 10.3.6 and Mac OS X 10.3.6 Server build 7R28 ,as well as J2SE 5.0 (JAVA) Release 1 Developer Preview 2 for Mac OS X Tiger 8A294 (Client).
Additional information on these latest builds is forthcoming.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Oct-27-2004
06:55 PM EST
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Apple preparing to release new Tiger builds to developers Apple Computer is gearing up to provide its "Select" Apple Developer Connection (ADC) members with newer builds of its next generation Tiger operating system, several sources are reporting. The new builds could arrive as soon as this weekend.
Earlier this week, the company reportedly provided its more exclusive "Premier" ADC members with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger build 8A269. Although this build is significantly newer than the version of Tiger provided to developers in June, its said to be several weeks behind the builds that are floating around Apple's Cupertino campus.
AppleInsider articles have covered builds of Tiger into the 8A28x range. Inside Apple, the Mac OS X development team is reportedly approaching the 8A3xx milestone. Further details will be published as they become available.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Oct-27-2004
12:00 PM EST
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Apple ends optical drive enhancement program for iBooks Apple Computer is ending a limited time offer that gave customers who own iBooks with a combo optical drive the opportunity to enhance their optical drive performance by swapping out their existing failed optical drive for a faster performing optical drive, reliable sources tell AppleInsider.
"Only like-for-like combo optical drives will now be accepted by Apple for exchanges," the company said in a message to relevant parties in the US, Canada, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
Apple began the optical drive enhancement program in January, after discovering that a batch of faulty optical drives had found their way into a mix of iBook configurations. The discontinuation of the program is effective immediately, the company said.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Oct-12-2004
12:00 PM EST
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Apple to release FY 04 fourth quarter results on Wednesday Strong sales of iPods, laptops and iMacs are expected to lead Apple's Q4 earnings.
Apple Computer on Wednesday will announce its fourth quarter results for the 2004 fiscal year. A conference call for analysts and investors will kick-off at 2:00 p.m. PDT/5:00 p.m. EDT. Full coverage of the event will be available at AppleInsider shortly thereafter.
The computer maker is expected to showcase a strong quarter backed by firm sales of laptops and better than expected shipments of its iPod digital music players and related products.
Sales of Apple's new iMac G5 may also garner some praise as the company reportedly saw an excess of 50,000 web orders placed at its online store in the four days following its introduction. Each order could potentially consist of more than one iMac G5, tipsters said.
Analysts who follow Apple are expecting the company to announce earnings of approximately 18 cents a share, but think the company could top these expectations by at least a penny.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Oct-08-2004
02:00 PM EST
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"Wild Postings" iPod commercial to expire next week Apple Computer has informed its channel partners that its "Wild Posting" iPod commercial will officially expire on October 14th.
The iPod maker asked that its resellers make certain that all references to the commercial and demo units featuring the ad spot are removed.
A replacement iPod advertisement that will be suitable for use by resellers will be provided "in the very near future," and may coincided with the rumored introduction of a 60GB high-end color iPod this fall.
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| AppleInsider News Byte: |
Sep-29-2004
09:55 AM EST
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Apple prepares .Mac improvements Apple Computer this week is expected to quietly surprise members of its .Mac internet services with several new features.
According to reports, the company will be increasing email and iDisk storage space to a combined 250MB, up from 115MB. User's of the service will also be given an option to upgrade their .Mac account to 1 GB for US$49.95 per year.
In addition to the storage enhancements, Apple is also expected to introduce e-mail aliases and an e-mail spell checker.
No further details were available.
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