Apple Archive

Apple today introduced Xsan, a high-performance enterprise-class Storage Area Network (SAN) file system priced at US$999. Xsan is a 64-bit cluster file system for Mac OS X that enables organizations to consolidate storage resources and provide multiple computers with concurrent file-level read/write access to shared volumes over Fibre Channel. A beta version of Xsan is available immediately to qualified customers. The final version of Xsan is expected to be available this fall. On other news, Apple introduced Shake 3.5, Final Cut Pro HD, DVD Studio PRO 3 and a new application named Motion. Go to MacMinute.com for up to the minute updates on the new products unveiled as we write this.

Apple Computer Inc. is seeking Common Criteria evaluation of Mac OS X, which could open government doors wider to open-source software. Apple wants a Common Criteria Evaluated Assurance Level 3, which "costs big bucks," said John Hurley, Apple’s security policy architect. "It's a pain in the neck to spend that money." Elsewhere, C|Net has two more Apple-related articles here and here.

Apple today announced a faster, more affordable line of eMac desktops for home and schools, including faster PowerPC G4 processors running at up to 1.25 GHz, 333 MHz DDR memory, faster ATI Radeon graphics and USB 2.0 connectivity to peripherals.

Donn Denman, who joined the early Mac team at Apple in 1982 with the task of building a BASIC programming language interpreter for the new computer, feels that today's Macs are not all that different from the ones built 20 years ago, but thinks we'll see a lot of changes in the next 20 years. Read the interview at MacMinute.

Apple says it is seeing a large number of UNIX, Java and Open Source developers migrating to Mac OS X. "Over the last three years, people who have experience in those areas are showing a great interest in our OS," Apple VP of Worldwide Developer Relations Ron Okamoto told internetnews.com.

This is the third installment of a series of pieces that I have been writing about my experiences with my new Apple iBook and MacOS X Panther having been a long-term Windows user.

The Council of Better Business Bureaus has recommended (based on a tip by Dell) that Apple Computer discontinue comparative performance claims regarding its Power Mac G5 desktop.

The Mac maker suffers a snub at the hands of software powerhouse Adobe Systems, manages to shuttle its Xserve G5 server out the door after a month's delay, and gets a tip on the iPod and iTunes from RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser, while Wal-Mart now offers cheaper song downloads at .88 cents.

The Register takes a look back at that day a decade ago when Apple's announcement of a RISC-based Macintosh, the "Power Mac" really shook things up. The PowerPC was going to trounce the aging X86 architecture, and herald in a new era of fast computing. Problem is, Intel had a few tricks up its sleeve too. Apple's real achievement, though, was making the transition to a new architecture relatively painless.

Apple has revised the Technical Note 1550 and officially documents for the first time the new features of HFS+ which have been introduced with Panther:

This document discusses operating systems that Apple has created in the past, and many that it tried to create. Through this discussion, we will come across several technologies the confluence of which eventually led to Mac OS X. An important goal of the discussion is to better understand the reasons, and if possible, the rationale behind Mac OS X and its important components. This, in turn, will be helpful in understanding and appreciating the system as it is today.

Apple Computer Inc.'s chief financial officer Fred Anderson and corporate controller Peter Oppenheimer spoke at Morgan Stanley & Co.'s conference March 1. The wide-ranging 40-minute discussion covers a range of topics, with a particular focus on iPods, Apple notebooks, the creative professionals market, and retail. And the discussion confirms Apple's aggressive plans.

"Gunningham's departure dredges up lingering questions. Can Apple ever escape its desktop perch and march into the data centers of America Inc.? And what does Apple have to show for the past two years of efforts to sell powerful servers to businesses?" Alex Salkever is wondering for eCommerceTimes.

"Our main goal is to complete the Rhapsody OS and make it an OS that people would like to use. We aim for end users and hope to bring them what Apple has brought their customers for the past 20 years - the simplicity and style which Mac OS has." Check out the project here.