Q8mug.com

MyFirstMac.com have just launched their site , It helps first time mac buys/users to know more about their mac . It also helps those who want to switch to a mac and don’t know which mac to buy.

It’s a great resource for newbies and first comers .. Check them out Here

Starting in April 2007 there were rumors from MediaTakeOut that rapper Jay-Z was leaving the Def Jam Recordings record label to create a new “super label” with singer Beyonce.

In an exclusive interview, MediaTakeOut.com spoke to a key person involved in creating the new label. And according to that insider, the new label will launch early next year. Tells our insider, “It’s a done deal. [Jay Z] already has Beyonce and [Mathew Knowles] on board … She’ll be finishing up her contract [with Sony], and I expect that she’ll sign on to the new label shortly afterwards.”

Jay-Z is a popular rapper and current president and CEO of Def Jam — a record label owned by Universal Music.At the time, Jay-Z was reportedly shopping this new “super label” around with the major record labels “and to Apple - who [was] very interested in doing business”.Now, Moli.com is claiming that “an inside industry source” says that its a done deal.

[Jay-Z and Beyonce] will move to Apple to run a new music division. It sounds rather incredible: [Jay-Z's] already got a pretty good job, running Def Jam, and [Steve] Jobs may be too smart to get into the tanking recording business (as others have said). Of course, if it is true, my guess is this would be a new, revamped record biz, one based on digital distribution, not boring old physical products.

Coincidentally, Universal Music recently let their long term contract lapse with Apple for iTunes music distribution and have gone on a short term “at will” distribution deal.

Source : Moli.com

Apple posted a new Macbook Pro EFI Firmware update on its site. The update is intended for the new Macbook Pro 15in 2.2 and 2.4 GHz machines.

About MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.3
This EFI Firmware update fixes a display issue on 2.2/2.4GHz 15-inch MacBook Pro models.

Apple also released a Firmware Restoration CD 1.3.

The Firmware Restoration CD can restore the firmware of an Intel-based Macintosh computer.
Note: Restoring your firmware will reset some of your computer’s preferences to defaults.

Sources:
Apple Support
Apple Support
Macrumors.com

Apple today released two updates. One for iTunes and another for Quick Time.

With iTunes 7.3, you can now activate iPhone service and sync it with your music, TV shows, movies and more. Also, you can now wirelessly share and enjoy your favorite digital photos from any computer in your home with Apple TV. iTunes 7.3.1 addresses a minor problem with iTunes 7.3 accessing the iTunes Library.

QuickTime 7.2 addresses critical security issues and delivers:
- Support for full screen viewing in QuickTime Player
- Updates to the H.264 codec
- Numerous bug fixes

This release is recommended for all QuickTime 7 users.

Important Notice to QuickTime Pro Users
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, visit www.apple.com/quicktime to purchase a QuickTime 7 Pro key.

Both updates can be downloaded through software update.

MacScoop claims that according to “trusted sources” Apple is planning on releasing “a notebook that is so small and light that it could redefine the standards of ultra-portable computing.”The upcoming Apple notebook is said to feature a 12″ display, 0.6-0.7 inches thick, and weigh less than 3 pounds. 

MacScoop’ssources are unclear if an optical drive will accompany this ultra-portable notebook, but do feel it is likely to come by year’s end (2007).

 Source : MacScoop 

Recently I reviewed Parallels Virtual Machine software but with the introduction of Parallels 3.0 the review has to be done again. As stated before Parallels comes with support for 3D gaming and better support for USB 2.0 devices. It also has a feature called “SmartSelect” which allows you to open any file from either OS X or Windows by binding that file to a specific program in either operating systems. Another feature allows you to browse the virtual machine files without even starting the virtual machine it self with an application called Parallels Explorer. Other features include better Linux support as well as shared printers for cross platform printing. Parallels is offering this upgrade at a price of $49.99. If you have purchased Parallels sometime after May 1st then you are eligible for a free upgrade.

Features:
• Easy Installation
• Allows you to run Windows in OS X
• Easy Drag and Drop between OS X and Windows
• Coherence Mode
• Full USB 2.0 support
• Full Networking support
• Boot Camp support

With Windows XP, Parallels runs flawlessly. It is very responsive and fast. So far I have tried to connect my N95 Nokia phone to it but with no luck. I will try other USB devices to see if there is actually a difference. What I liked so far is the fact the Parallels mounts the virtual drive in Finder which makes it quite easy to transfer large files to and from OSX.
The most notable new feature is 3D gaming and directX. Parallels 3.0 has support for 3D games and yours truly tried some of them. I was not able to get the latest Command & Conquer to run but I was able to run all the previous Command & Conquer games up to Generals. The game play was simply amazing. You choose the resolution you want and play in the Parallels window just as if it is a native Mac game. Overall the graphics and the game response was that of a typical Windows PC. I didn’t try an intensive 3D game like quake to gauge performance but for simple games like C&C and WOW it is perfect.
Parallels 3.0 is an excellent choice if you are into simple 3D games. If you are buying Parallels for the first time then 3.0 is what you want. If you have Parallels 2.0 and you are happy with it then I don’t see the need to upgrade to the newer version just yet. Performance is the same for both versions but the USB support is a lot better in 3.0.
One thing that I was looking for in Parallels was the ability to run Windows Vista from a Boot Camp partition and 3.0 delivers. The option is not grayed out anymore but I was not able to install the Parallels drivers and Windows Vista would crash. This in it self is a good reason to upgrade. If you are still using XP on Boot Camp then the reasons are not sufficient.
You can download a 15 day license to try Parallels but it requires that you do an upgrade to your virtual machines and so you would have backup them up just in case you decide not to go with 3.0 later on. This is because Parallels 3.0 does something to the virtual machine that won’t let it run on the older Parallels so just make sure your backup your current virtual machine before going ahead with the trial.
Parallels.com

PC world mag tested the iPhone for scratches and crashes.. here’s that they came out with : 

JP Morgan analysts claim that Apple is planning on launching a cheaper version of the iPhone in the 4th quarter of this year that “could be based on the ultra-slim iPod Nano music player”.The analyst (Kevin Chang) cited unspecified “people in the supply channel” as well as a recent U.S. Patent application as his sources for the information.

“We believe that iPod Nano will be converted into a phone because it’s probably the only way for Apple to launch a lower end phone without severely cannibalizing iPod Nano,” he said noting that the new phone could have “rather limited functionality.”

The “iPhone nano” patent application was widely cited last week as evidence of a possible iPhone Nano:

It describes a simple touchpad that can display different symbols for different modes of the device and the ways to operate such a device. These different symbols are illuminated as different modes of the device are selected and are used to operate iPhone Nano in that mode.

iMac refresh will also bring a new, sleeker keyboard.

Tapping the wizardry of industrial design chief Jonathan Ive and his team, the Cupertino-based Mac maker has reportedly crafted a super-slim external keyboard for the new Macs. It’s said to draw upon the aesthetic and feel of the low-profile keyboard which was first integrated with the company’s 13-inch MacBook portables in May of 2006.

The last change to Apple’s wired desktop keyboard accessory was in 2003, when Apple introduced the aptly named “Apple Keyboard”.iMac update can be expected in late July to mid August, with ThinkSecret specifying August as the likely arrival timeframe. Both sites expect a trimmed-down frame, with ThinkSecret citing the use of brushed aluminum, perhaps to roughly mirror the looks of the iPhone.

Apple will be focusing on OS X based iPods by Macworld San Francisco 2008.Munster’s belief is likely based on an otherwise overlooked comment by Steve Jobs at Apple’s Town Hall which revealed that Apple was working on OS X based iPods:

There is one OS group that does Mac OS X for the Mac and the iPhone, as well as “some iPods we’re working on.”

Apple uses a version OS X as the basis for the new iPhone, and many have expected a similar widescreen OS X based iPod to come from Apple since the introduction of the iPhone.