Disney Announces 125,000 iTunes Movies Sold In First Week

Disney CEO Rob Iger today announced that Disney has sold over 125,000 movies through the iTunes Movie store in the past week alone, totaling $1 million in revenue. In addition, Iger said the company expects over $50 million in revenue over the first year of the program.

Now...where are the other studios?

Apple Updates U2 iPod, Lowers Price

www.apple.com—u2

quietly refreshed its special edition U2 iPod, bringing it up to spec with the recently updated line of fifth-generation iPod digital music players. At $279 the company still charges a $30 premium for the special edition enclosure; the player is otherwise identical to the new $249 30 GB iPod

iTunes 7 Issues

www.macworld.co.uk—index.cfm

Apple has begun publishing tech support documents to address some reported bugs in iTunes 7. The release of the software generated the usual wave of fault reports, mainly (but not exclusively) from Windows users of the application

iTunes 7 won't play interactive booklets purchased from iTunes Store

docs.info.apple.com—article.html

1. Quit iTunes.
2. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
3. From the View menu, choose QuickTime.
4. In the Advanced tab, make sure that the Enable Flash checkbox is selected and then close System Preferences.

iTunes 7 for Windows: iTunes fails to launch with an unknown error

docs.info.apple.com—article.html

iTunes 7 for Mac: AirTunes won't connect to remote speakers

docs.info.apple.com—article.html

1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
2. From the View menu, choose Network.
3. From the Show pop-up menu, choose the network interface used to connect to the Airport Express Base Station (typically the network interface used is Airport).
4. Select the TCP/IP tab.
5. Click the Configure IPv6 button.
6. From the Configure IPv6 pop-up menu, choose Automatically.
7. Click Ok and then click Apply Now.
8. Reconnect to remote speakers in iTunes 7.

iTunes: Album art does not download properly

docs.info.apple.com—article.html

It appears that some third-party plug-ins can cause some instability

Apple And Circuit City Launch Pilot Program

A handful of Circuit City stores in the eastern U.S. will feature a selection of Macs including MacBooks, Mac minis, MacBook Pros and iMacs. The initiative is part of a new pilot program, which if successful, Circuit City hopes to expand to many of its retail stores. "This is a pilot program that's just getting underway and we will evaluate how it is doing over the next several months," said Circuit City spokesman Jim Babb. In addition to Macs, the retailer would also stock select Mac software titles and accessories.

This past weekend, Circuit City Updated their website to include the Apple Lineup- you can check your local store availability through their website.

RUMOR: 802.11n Card in new iMac?

forums.macrumors.com—showthread.php

A MacRumors user discovered that the wireless card in the new Core 2 Duo 20" iMac is identified as a Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter under the latest version of Vista.

The Broadcom 802.11n adapter provides a draft version of the 802.11n wireless specification which is not yet finalized..

The real data throughput is estimated to reach a theoretical 540 Mbit/s (which may require an even higher raw data rate at the physical layer), and should be up to 50 times faster than 802.11b, and well over 10 times faster than 802.11a or 802.11g.

Amazon's Movie/TV Download Service Launched - "Unbox"

The service offers television shows, movies and other videos from over 30 studios and networks. TV shows will sell for $1.99 while Movies range from $7.99 - $14.99. If you prefer to rent, Movies can be rented for $3.99 each.

Movies are accessed and played through the Amazon Unbox Video Player.

Minimum System Requirements:

PC Only

"while it may be possible to run the Amazon Unbox Video player on an Apple computer running a required Windows operating system, we cannot guarantee performance on those systems."

Amazon Unbox only works when installed on a personal computer or Media Center PC. You can also transfer videos to an approved hand-held device using the Amazon Unbox.

• Creative Zen Vision: M
• Creative Zen Vision
• Toshiba Gigabeat S
• Archos AV 500
• Archos AV 700
• iRiver PMC (Portable Media Center)

Cannot burn DVDs for use in a DVD player

Rentals:

After you rent and download an Amazon Unbox Video to your computer, you will have a limited period of time in which to begin viewing it. That period is 30 days unless otherwise specified on the product detail page for the Unbox Video rental. After you begin playing an Amazon Unbox Video, you will have 24 hours to complete viewing it. After these expiration times, the Amazon Unbox Video will automatically be deleted from your computer and Your Media Library.

Setting up a Mac Media Center- iTV vs. MacMini (?)

Bob Iger lets slip iTV will have a small HD

www.ipodobserver.com—28489

Will iTunes Movies Be A Success?

Walmart Threatened by iTunes Movie service (Walmart denies)

The New York Post reports that Wal-Mart is warning Hollywood studios against partnering with Apple's iTunes Store for movie distribution.

According to studio executives, "Wal-Mart has overtly threatened to retaliate if [studios] go into business with Apple... The situation between [Wal-Mart] and Hollywood has gotten so heated and so high-level that Jobs recently phoned Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott to ask him to moderate his stance, according to a source."

Reuters story claims that Wal-Mart has said it is not trying to dissuade movie studios from working with Apple's iTunes service. "The Post story appears to be a rehashing of the misinformation that's been printed previously," a Wal-Mart spokeswoman said in a statement.

Recently Updates to Movies and TV shows have been sparse

Pro Applications Updates:

www.apple.com—proapplicationsupdate200602.html

This update addresses several issues with underlying frameworks and shared components for Apple’s professional applications and is strongly recommended for all users of:
Final Cut Studio 5.1
Final Cut Pro 5.1
Motion 2.1
Soundtrack Pro 1.1
DVD Studio Pro 4.1
LiveType 2.1
Compressor 2.1
Apple Qmaster 2.1
Final Cut Express HD 3.5

Apple CHUD tools 4.4.3

developer.apple.com—performance

Apple Compressor 2.3

www.versiontracker.com—macosx

Apple Cinema Tools 3.2.1

www.versiontracker.com—14300

FinalCut Pro 5.1.2

www.apple.com—finalcutpro512.html

Final Cut Pro Update 5.1.2 provides important bug fixes and compatibility updates for certain Canon, Sony, JVC and Panasonic devices. This update is recommended for all Final Cut Pro 5.1 and Final Cut Pro 5.1.1 customers.

Apple Pro Application Support

Addresses several issues with underlying frameworks and shared components for Apple's professional applications

Security Update 2006-005

www.apple.com—securityupdate20060051047universal.html

For the first time, Apple has released a Universal edition of a Security Update, which works on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs. The company has also issued a PowerPC-only edition.
Note that this update is not intended for all Macs. It will only install on the following iterations (builds) of Mac OS X:
• Mac OS X v10.3.9
• Mac OS X Server v10.3.9
• Mac OS X v10.4.7 Builds 8J135, 8K1079, 8K1106, 8K1123, or 8K1124
• Mac OS X Server v10.4.7 Builds 8J135 or 8K1079

Airport Extreme Updater 2006-001

www.apple.com—airportupdate2006001.html

This update includes the following security fixes

Attackers on the wireless network may cause arbitrary code execution Attackers on the wireless

network may cause system crashes, privilege elevation, or arbitrary code execution

Depending upon third-party wireless software in use, attackers on the wireless network may cause crashes or arbitrary code execution

Appeture 1.5

www.apple.com—aperture

Flexible Library Management
• iLife '06 and iWork '06 Integration
• Export Metadata Automatically
• Advanced Color Controls
• Edge Sharpen
• Speed Metadata Entry with Presets
• Improved Loupe
• iPod Sync
• and more...

It is a free update to existing Aperture owners and should be available later this week.

Adobe Lightroom Beta

labs.adobe.com—lightroom

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom beta 4.0 offers improved digital photography workflow tools, including a precision white balance selection option and a more streamlined and elegant user interface experience with customizable controls. An intuitive new tone curve adjustment feature provides powerful image correction capabilities, allowing users to visually obtain excellent midtone, shadow and highlight adjustments.

Adobe Creative Suite 2.3

www.adobe.com—creativesuite

Version 2.3 will include Acrobat 8 and Dreamweaver 8, the Web design and development tool acquired from Macromedia. Adobe expects to ship Creative Suite 2.3 in the fourth quarter 2006. Estimated street prices will be $1200 for the full version of Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 Premium, $160 for an upgrade from Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium, and $550 for an upgrade from Creative Suite 1.x Premium and Standard.

Acrobat 8 will be the only universal application of the group

This is NOT a Universal Binary

Parallels Desktop 2.2.1898.0

www.parallels.com—desktop

Adds support the recently released quad-processor Mac Pro towers

Also included is support for additional USB Devices

Compatability with Leopard and Vista

Mac PRO EFI and SMC Firmware Updates

This EFI Firmware Update fixes several Boot Camp and start up issues on Mac Pro computers. If the firmware update doesn't run automatically, open it manually in the /Applications/Utilities folder.

www.apple.com—macprosmcfirmwareupdate.html

The SMC Firmware Update adjusts fan behavior in the Mac Pro. After this update has completed successfully, your SMC Version will be: 1.7f8. The updater application will be installed in the /Applications/Utilities folder and will launch automatically after restart.

www.apple.com—macpromid2006efifirmwareupdate10.html

MicroMat Universal Binaries

www.micromat.com

Micromat, developer of Macintosh disk repair and maintenance technology, today announced the release of updates for both TechTool Protege (a bootable FireWire flash drive that contains both TechTool Pro 4 and DiskStudio) and DiskStudio (a disk partitioning utility). These updates provide Universal Binary support for both products so that they can be used on either Intel- or PowerPC-based Macs. All of the features that were previously available for PowerPC-based Macs will now be available for Intel-based Macs as well. The retail price for TechTool Protege is US$229, and DiskStudio is $49.

Skype For Mac 2.0 Beta

www.skype.com—20beta.html

Gives any Mac user with an Internet connection the ability to make free video calls to anyone else on Skype, regardless of whether they use the Windows or Mac platform

Quicksilver 1.0b51

quicksilver.blacktree.com

Quicksilver is an evolving framework for accessing and manipulating many forms of personal data. The latest beta version includes plug-in updates and tweaks.

Missing Sync for Palm OS - 5.1.1

Addresses an issue when subscribing to Google calendars

Various bug fixes

Media Central 2.3

www.equinux.com—index.html

Now supports additional DVB-T devices, like the popular Miglia TVMini. Equinux also added a "DV port" which allows to connect FireWire devices or iSight. In addition, Flickr is now fully integrated into MediaCentral. Equinux has also added more online content to MediaCentral, such as additional IP TV and radio stations (English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Russian) and updated the Movie Trailers section. MediaCentral is priced at US$29.95

Allume Stuffit Deluxe 11.0

New features in this release include: an Archive Manager; powerful search tools ; Strong Encrypted Zip Support; improved Preview Image Thumbnails; and improved performance

Now a universal Binary

Mac OS 10.4 or later and is priced at US$79.99 ($29.99 upgrade)

Amazon.com's ongoing mail-in rebates chop up to $200 off select Apple Mac Pro Workstations, MacBooks and MacBooks Pro, Mac minis, PowerMacs, and iMacs. Plus, shipping is free on most systems. Rebates end September 12. Some best bets:
• MacBook Pro Core Duo 2GHz 15.4", model no. MA600LL/A, for $1,849.99 shipped free after this $150 mail-in rebate;
• MacBook Pro Core Duo 2.16GHz 15.4", model no. MA601LL/A, for $2,349.99 shipped free after this $150 mail-in rebate; and
• MacBook Pro Core Duo 2.16GHz 17", model no. MA092LL/A, for $2,599.99 shipped free after this $200 mail-in rebate.

SmallDog: iPod HiFi and 40GB iPod for $461

the Apple iPod Hi-Fi, model no. M9867LL/A, with either the factory-refurbished Apple iPod 20GB MP3 Player for $411 or the factory-refurbished Apple iPod photo 40GB MP3 Player for $461. With free 3-day shipping

Refurbished iPod Minis iPod Minis

he factory-refurbished Apple iPod mini 4GB MP3 Player, in Silver, Blue, Pink, or Green, again costs $99 at The Apple Store. With free shipping, that's still the lowest total price we've seen. Sales tax is added where applicable. Of note: The factory-refurbished Apple iPod mini 6GB MP3 Player, in Silver, Blue, or Pink, is also available for $129 shipped free, also tying our last mention for that model