Ars Technica has a report on ...Sophos, the Abingdon, UK-based antivirus company, who released a statement in their latest Security Report that urged people to switch to Apple Macintosh computers. According to the report, "the continued dominance of Windows-based threats has prompted Sophos to suggest that many home users should consider switching to Apple Macs, to shield themselves from the malware onslaught."

I think you'll agree that the message is true but both Ars Technica and myself still haven't figured out why an AV company would advise potentail customers to switch away from a platform where people no longer need their software?

On a slightly related note, McAfee have just added the 200,000th definition to its threat database and estimate that this could increase to 400,000 by 2008.

There are now more antivirus signatures than there are files on a typical PC, according to Andrew Jaquith, a senior analyst at the Yankee Group. "Collectively the industry is creaking under the load of all of it," he said.

Antivirus

The long anticipated replacement for the education targetted eMac was launched this week both in the US and Europe.

It's a special configuration of the iMac and signals the demise of CRT Monitors in Apples hardware lineup.

The specs of the new iMac include:

17" 1440x900 resolution screen
1.83GHz Core Duo Processor
512MB RAM (2x256 banks rather than a single)
80GB HD (rather than 160GB)
24x Combo Drive (rather than a superdrive)
Intel GMA 959 graphics with 64MB shared memory

plus the usual iSight Camera, Airport Extreme Wireless, Front Row, OSX Tiger and iLife '06

Both the Bluetooth 2.0 and the Apple Remote have been removed from the original iMac spec

The new iMac costs £639, Apple UK has confirmed. This price includes VAT. The new education iMac is presently only available to education customers.

I've heard that the introduction of BootCamp has been a big selling point in the education market due to the fact that schools and colleges can now deploy a single hardware platform from a single vendor and yet have the benefit of running both Mac OS X and Windows environments on the same machines. Expect the new education iMac to give Apple yet another boost in this sector.

MAcWorld UK is reporting that the iHome iH5 iPod clock radio is reaching the shelves of many of the UK's major high street retailers and online stores this week.

This is the flagship product of SDI Technologies' iHome range of iPod accessories, which it launched in the second half of 2005.

iPod users can use the device as an alarm clock that will wake them up to their chosen choice of track(s) from their music player. It also has an AM/FM radio, an alarm buzzer, and is compatible with all iPods with a dock connector. The iPod is recharged when docked.

A programmable sleep function offers five different time schedules of gradually decreasing volume level. Sleep volume level can be set independently of wake volume.

The company claims: "Stereo drivers in our exclusive Reson8 speakers deliver astounding clarity, depth and power."

The iH5 ships with an infrared remote control. The device costs £99.99.

Engadget have a post showing 10 supposed iPod (and one iPhone?) "redesigns" which AppleInsider extracted from the bowels of a European trademark and design office.

Credited to Andre K. Bartley, an Apple interface designer with several iPod-related patent filings in the US and Europe under his belt, these designs were registered in January 2006 without any descriptive data.

I have to agree with Engadgets assessment that although they don't doubt the authenticity of this filing,it's hard to imagine Apple walking away from its much loved, and often imitated, click-wheel interface for the iPod as AppIeInsider suggests. Considering Apple's long history of litigation over interface design, the patent filings are probably just part of some legal maneuvering.

Apple to ace the iPod click-wheel?

The Electronic Manufacturing Services Industry website EMSNow reports taht Asustek hit record monthly shipments of Notebooks in June.

Benefiting by its growing shipments to Apple Computer, the monthly notebook PC shipment volume of Asustek Computer Inc. hit a record monthly high of 500,000 units - including both OEM sales and ASUS own-brand sales - in June.

Asustek, already the world's largest supplier of motherboards, has been actively developing its notebook PC manufacturing business by both concentrating on both own-brand and contract-production sales. In April, Asustek began contract supplying MacBook notebook PCs to Apple, and the global demand for the new model has been heating up.

In addition to Apple's increasing order volume, Asustek's own-brand notebook PC sales in Europe have begun to accelerate. The company is very confident it can continuously hit record monthly shipments from June to November, compared to the relatively conservative attitude toward this year's business climate held by other major players in Taiwan.

With the new tactic of adopting Intel's processors in its PC models, Apple announced an ambitious shipment goal of selling 2.5 million units in the first half. Currently, Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co. Ltd. is responsible for contract supplying the iMac desktop machines (which began selling in January), Quanta Computer Inc. for the 14- and 15-inch MacBook Pro models, while Asustek is responsible for the MacBook. Asustek's subsidiary Asusalpha Computer Inc. actually makes the MacBooks for Apple.

Asustek began shipments of the first batch of 100,000 MacBooks to Apple in April, with the volume doubling to 200,000 units in May and climbing to 300,000 units in June. In the next few months, the monthly shipments of the MacBook are expected to remain at a about the 300,000-unit level.

EMSNow - News Publishing

Universal Music -- one of the four major record labels and the world's largest record group -- has priced back-catalog CDs in line with its download versions, acknowledging the rising influence of Apple's iTunes as reports iPodNN

Universal will divide its CDs into three price and product ranges in Europe in an effort to rejuvenate a format that covers over 90 percent of record sales, according to The Guardian. Universal will introduce a "basic" CD for aged recordings, wrapping the album in a card case with no sleeve notes for an estimated €9.99. Other formats include the "DeLuxe" to target the gift market at €19.99 with a bonus CD or DVD, and the "super jewel" box, a more rugged version of the classic plastic CD cases.

The new formats are expected to launch in the UK and Europe in September.

iPodNN

Well In Europe we may have received the new iPod updater and a new version of iTunes to add support for the integration of the iPod with the new line of Nike + sports gear

However, what we don't have is a newsection on the iTunes Music Store that has been launched in the US called Sport Music

The Playlist mag Website reports that to support its new cross-promotion with Nike, Apple has posted a new section on the iTunes Music Store called Sport Music, where users can download content specifically for working out and training.

“Tune your run,” reads the site. “You play sports. You play music. Now the two brands who help you do both will make sure you never do either the same way again.”

Sportswear maker Nike recently introduced a new line of gear called Nike+ — it debuted in may with a new pair of running shoes that can connect wirelessly to an Apple iPod nano using the Nike+iPod Sport kit, which records time, distance, calories burned and other data, then uploads that to the Nike+ Web site the next time you sync your iPod.

Apple has posted five Nike+ Workouts — options include continuous tracks or individual tracks, designed for treadmill training, speed training, strength training and endurance training. One mix was created entirely by electronic duo The Crystal Method; the others include works from various artists.

Additionally, Apple has posted Sport iMixes, athletically-related podcasts, and “Athlete Inspirations” — playlists from well-known athletes such as Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, champion marathoner Paula Radcliffe and NBA pro Steve Nash.

Hmm - and don't get me started on Movies and TV shows!

Playlist:

Apple has recently filed a trademark for the term 'MacExpo.'
Apple plans on registering the name for ownership in regards to its use in publishing, advertising and business processes, as well as education, exhibitions and seminars.
Reports indicate that the company had previously registered the term as a community trademark within the European Union in countries such as Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Portugal, and the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The term has also been used in Apple expo events that have been held in London and Germany annually for the past few years.

All Headline News

have a listen to this....

That's the sound of Apples get a mac campaign in Germany. Thomas one of the regulars on the ScreenCastsOnline and EuroMacPodcast pointed this out a few days ago. Thomas says "It's been renamed to "Ja zum Mac" which translates to "Say Yes to Mac". They have used the same set of ads and simply dubbed them with German. It's been a long time since Apple has done any advertising in Germany (apart from iPod) so I'm quite curious for the impact.

The get a mac campaign has also made it's way to the Apples UK website as well although none of the ads have made it onto the TV yet.

ScreenCastsOnline Forum

Cyberphone for the Mac

Over on ScreenCastsOnline it's that time of the month again, so this week s episode is just for Extra! members only. It's a 30 minute primer on one of my favourite apps iMovieHD. If you're subscribed to the free feed you'll get a short promo for the show but Extra! members will get the full show automatically.

Just a reminder that I'll be giving away a Cyberphone W over on ScreenCastsOnline as the first prize in the monthly prize draw for new Extra! members signing up in July. Membership is still only $25 USD for a full 6 months. Details over on the ScreenCastsOnline website at www.screencastsonline.com

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