Stan's List

Intel Corp. has just released plans for its mobile computing platform through the second quarter of 2007, which will include a new notebook processor with an 800MHz front-side bus, as covered by DailyTech.

Forbes.com is reporting the possibility of a merger between industry heavyweights AMD and ATI. This is largely based on a ‘prediction on recent checks in the PC food chain’ by industry analyst Apjit Walia. A move like this might give AMD some leverage over Intel, who has been slashing prices lately to compete with a major surge in AMD popularity in both the home and server markets. More …

Apple has released a SuperDrive 2.0 firmware update for the following Macs:

* PowerBook G4 (12 -inch 1.5GHz)
* PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.33GHz, 1.5GHz, or 1.67GHz)
* PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.67GHz)
* iMac G5 (17-inch 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz)
* iMac G5 (20-inch 1.8GHz)
* Mac mini G4

The new release “fixes burning speeds when writing to certain recordable DVD media.”

Apple has announced the launch of its “free” computer take-back program to US buyers of a “new” Mac in the lower 48 states. Beginning today, online and brick-n-mortar Apple Stores will offer buyers the option of recycling a computer from any manufacturer.

Before you drag that old Mac or PC to an Apple Store, you should know that Apple will send an email with instructions and a label for free shipping and recycling to program participants. Customers simply package their recyclable equipment and attach the label provided. All equipment received by the program is recycled domestically and no hazardous material is shipped overseas.

QuickTime 7.1.1 addresses an issue with 3rd party start-up items on Intel Macs. This release also fixes an issue exporting Keynote presentations to iDVD.

Important Notice to QuickTime Pro Users:
Installation of QuickTime 7 will disable the QuickTime Pro functionality in prior versions of QuickTime, such as QuickTime 5 or QuickTime 6. If you proceed with this installation, you must purchase a new QuickTime 7 Pro key to regain QuickTime Pro functionality. After installation, to download a standalone installer or to purchase a QuickTime 7 Pro key, visit here http://www.apple.com/quicktime

Downloading .using Software Update is a little slow

DiskWarrior 3: Low End Mac has the reasons why. More …

Adobe’s European Marketing VP told during Adobe Live this week that the company will discontinue Freehand and GoLive, in favor of Illustrator and Dreamweaver. Morew …

“Apple has already filed a patent to capitalize on one future direction this might take: changing the tempo of the music based on the pace of the listener’s activity. The patent, filed in November 2004 but just made public, describes how an iPod might automatically adjust the tempo of the music to match the pace of exercise, or vice versa.” More …

AppleInsider: “The New York City Police Department on Thursday was called to the site of Apple’s flamboyant new retail shop to rescue a group of students that had become stuck inside store’s glass-encapsulated elevator system.” More …

Writing for the Seattle Times, Brier Dudley reports on a less than impressive experience with the current beta release of Windows Vista at a conference.More …