" Total success in the Superdrive Firmware upgrade. I have a PB 1ghz Ti with Superdrive. iToast reports 16x cd-r, and 2x on DVD-R. This fireware update is great!!!! Saved a bundle and made something I already own much faster.
JAustin "

" Throwing caution to the wind (because I miss DVD-RW functionality) I applied the firmware update to a 15" PB from Dec 2002.

16x CDR - yes! this is nice
2x DVD-R - haven't tried it yet
1x DVD-RW - does not work with OptoDisc brand, but it doesn't eject it instead Toast gives first Hardware Error and then Media Error and stops. I think all that is missing here is the "right brand". The OptoDisc media works fine in my old Pioneer 104 and 105 drives. I almost always pre-flight my DVD projects on DVD-RW before committing them to DVD-R so RW support is sorely missed on the PB.
I'm eager to hear if anyone has good results with DVD-RW and which brand they used.
-Roland G "

I have had success with Maxell 1x DVD-RW discs here with my UJ-815 (from macresq) as noted in the review. I'm going to burn a DVD-RW later today to make sure it still works after the firmware update.

" Try burning at 2x before you get too excited - I did, toast reported 2x speeds and finish time, but the burn was at 1x according to the clock... I will test again with branded media ASAP, but even so, another upside for me (15in Ti, 2002 apple supplied drive) is 16x CD burning which is good, and DVD-RW support, again seems good.
Fingers crossed.
Paul "

I timed my DVD-R 2x burn in Toast with a stopwatch - it was literally half the time of previous tests at 1x, so 2x seems to be working fine on this drive so far.

I welcome other reports from reader that have applied the firmware. (See the warnings/disclaimers in the readme file with the download - and test some burns before sending a report to ensure all is well. Include your mac model/drive info in reports - i.e. if it's an apple shipped drive or retail bought. Thanks!)

" Hi from germany,
don't know if this is interesting for the community, but i stumbled over this sentence in your news...

(from above news item)
"It requires a bit of terminal handy work in order to play some of the games and can be hard to non-terminal users to figure out (such as myself)..."

There is a tool called:
ScummAqua 1.0
Written by Oscar Gothberg
The ScummAqua website: http://www.d.kth.se/~d00-ogo/ogosoft/scummaqua/
don't know if it works with the latest release, didn't have the time to test it... sounds good anyway.
-TRON "

Greg Gant, who wrote the FAQ on using SCUMMVM replied to this post:

" Scumm Aqua mainly served as a preloader for games but serves little purpose in the newer versions of ScummVM. In fact it doesn't even work with the latest versions. Also it doesn't provide GUI frontend for any of the utilities so you still need to use the terminal to rescumm certain games (too bad). Also, on a side note, I updated my FAQ so its only semi- poorly written... "

MacPlay... announced today that Mac gamers will soon have the opportunity to shape the course of mid-20th century history with Hearts of Iron, the next release in their exclusive distribution agreement with British publisher Virtual Programming. The real-time strategy game is available for pre-orders now and will ship September 15, 2003.
Spanning the years 1936-1946, Hearts of Iron offers epic gameplay on a global map which features every nation in the world at that time. Players select a country and build its technology and military, even developing super-weapons in the process, as they plan a strategy to win World War II. They can take the war to any front they wish and in the process drastically alter the course of history. Hearts of Iron was developed by Paradox Entertainment, best known for the critically acclaimed strategy game: Europa Universalis II. The team at Paradox researched World War II in depth to ensure that all aspects of the game were true to their historical counterparts. The unique system simulates the politics of the time period and their effect on neutral nations.
Players can take on computer-controlled opponents or head to the Internet to battle human players through the proprietary Valkyrienet match-making service.
MSRP is $29.99. You will be able to find Hearts of Iron at your favorite retailer or at the MacPlay store."

" You should probably add that the software used (Route 66) only has maps for Europe, so isn't much use to USA users. In fact, its not GPS hardware that's the limiting factor now, its software. (An older version of Route 66, Classic or OS 9 only, does have US maps, about 4-5 years out of date now, but isn't available for purchase anymore (rather like the Delorm product).
Brian"

That reminds me of a recent petition for Mac GPS support a reader wrote about last week.

Settimio later wrote that with a reply to the above:

" Route 2004 For Mac USA/Canada will be available soon as a representative of Route 66 told us this week. Meanwhile the USA 2002 version is still available for direct buy from them... check this link:
http://www.66.com/route66/news.php?cid=US
The review has now links to useful GPS software for Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 for cartographic and nautical use"

(his original mail follows)

" we have made a special test with a GPS receiver on Compact flash It's a good solution for Macs with PCMCIA slot and works also on Mac OS X for driving directions. (the page is fully translated in english)
http://www.macitynet.it/macprof/archivio/test/haicomcfe.shtml

Settimio Perlini "

• Powerlogix iMac G4/500 in iMac 233 (rated 3)
• Powerlogix G3/800 in B&W G3 (rated 9)
• Powerlogix G4 1GHz in G4/AGP (rated 3)
• Powerlogix G4/800 in DA G4/AGP (rated 9)
• Sonnet G4 700 in 7300/166 (rated 8)
• Sonnet G3/500 in Powerbook G3 wallstreet2 (rated 10)
  (My full reviews of G4 and G3 upgrades w/apps/game tests, install info, etc. are linked here.)

(Warning - Overclocking may not be reliable and could lead to hardware failure or corrupted data.) You can find the full reports by searching the database selecting the indicated Mac model and upgrade card brand/type. If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, please post an entry in the database. Search the database for entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand). For detailed reviews with performance tests and install tips, see the CPU Upgrades page.)

CD-ROM Drives:
• IDE Creative 24x in Dual G4 DDR (OS X)
  (listed under other brands)
• IDE LG CRD-8400B 40x in Dual G4 DDR (OS X)
  
  DVD-ROM Drives:
• IDE Cendyne 16x/48x in B&W G3 (OS 9)
  (listed under "other" brands)
• IDE Toshiba SD M1612 (16x/48x) in B&W G3 (OS X)
  (flawless he said in OS 9 and OS X)
  
  CDRW Drives:
• IDE LG CGE-8523B (52x24x52x) in Beige G3 (OS X)
  (using modified burn support plugin)
• IDE Samsung SW-252B (52x24x52x) in B&W G3 (OS X)
  (using modified burn support plugin)
  (FYI - Illustrated CD/DVD/CDRW drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT, B&W G3 and 8600/9600 Macs.)
  
  DVD-R DVD Recorder Drives:
• IDE Pioneer DVR-103 in G4/AGP (OS X)
  (noted what appears to be drive laser failure)
  
  Hard Drives:
• IDE Seagate ST340014A 40GB in Beige G3 (OS 9.2)
  (Beige G3 MT illustrated HD upgrade guide here)
• IDE Western Digital WD400BB 40GB in Beige G3 (OS X)

You can find full owner reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). For guides to installing CD/CDRW/DVD drives or Hard drives in many mac models, see the IDE Articles page. The Firewire articles page also has guides on case kits, installing drives, etc.
If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. make sure you add a report to the database. (If you post an updated entry - make sure you use the same name, etc. as you did before so I can find your past entry. Thanks.)
(Incomplete entries are deleted. Do not post questions in the database, it's for drive reports not questions on what drive to buy - for that try searching the database for reports from owners of your mac model on the drive type/brand/interface, etc. you're interested in.)

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