" We have a Rev II coming the first week of May, we've boosted the output, so headphones sound better in their bass response, the first iMic is a line level out, so they sound great when hooked up to an audio amp, but lower impedance headphones don't sound as well, we were thinking that headphones would be used in, uh, the Headphone jack, but we crumbled in due to customer demand. The audio gain will now be available via the Sound Control panel, and we've removed Line in as an Input type, now only mic in will be available by default, but will be able to be changed via the iMic Control panel. "

" I attached the firmware I applied. It says Firmware 1.2 in the ReadMe, but Firmware 3.0 is the installer file. Strange. That's a German installer, as you have recognized by now, but this firmware is (of course) available in English. I got it from the OS 9.1 CD that shipped with MacOS X.
(I asked if the Formac iProraid flash update could be used to update the card after the iMac firmware update-Mike)

Problem is: I can't update the card's firmware when the iMac has deactivated the slot and thus can't see the card ! Yup, you got it. I can't flash the card.

Lars"

"Hi Mike,
.. I made a firmware update on an iMac Rev.B in order to install OS 9.1 (we installed a new network in a customer's medical practice - wanted to have all Macs with the same OS). I totally forgot about the update killing the Mezzanine slot. I have a iProRaid in that iMac, connected to a Paperport scanner used very often.
Wasn't there a patch for the firmware to reactivate this slot ?
-- Lars"

I don't know of any patch or way to flash the older firmware back. I suggested he contact Formac to see if they have a fix, but if any readers have any suggestions or have seen this issue, let me know.

"hello mike:
I just successfully modified the Plextor device plugin for Mac OS X version of iTunes to allow me to burn CDs with my "unsupported" 16x CDRW. the hack was simple and very similar to what people were doing with the Mac OS 9 CD authoring files. I logged in as the root user (actually just su to root from the terminal) and edited the file
"PlextorCDR.device-plugin" found in the directory
"/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DiscRecording.framework/Versions/A/Resources/DevicePlugIns"
once in emacs i searched for the text "1210" and found the text "PX-W1210A" which is the model name for the 12x CD burner. change the 2 to a 6 and saved the changes. after that, simply running iTunes allowed me to burn an audio CD. my drive is the PX-W1610A, IDE in an ADS firewire external enclosure.

as always your mileage may vary and more importantly, make a backup of the original file before making any changes like this!
good luck,
scott"

I had hoped that the 1.1.1 OS X iTunes update would have supported the Plextor 16/10/40 even in a firewire case but perhaps not. (I don't have a plextor drive to test.)

"just an FYI, i just got confirmation from the Apple store that my new iBook has shipped! looks like they are ahead of schedule!
- matt"

He later replied his model was the $1499 DVD model.

" My PowerMac G4 733 came with the SuperDrive, but I wanted to pull it and install my OEM Apple/Matsushita DVD-RAM (5.2/9.4GB) drive instead because I would be using it much more often than the DVD-R. I would then install the DVD-R into an ADS Pyro Firewire enclosure.

The DVD-RAM worked fine mounted internally in the G4. I thought the SuperDrive was working fine in the Pyro enclosure as well since I was able to burn CD-Rs with this configuration without any problems. However, I, finally, I had chance to try its DVD-R burning capabilities. Well, iDVD won't even start if it doesn't detect a DVD-R drive on one of the internal IDE buses...

I've now gotten the SuperDrive back inside the G4 and and DVD-RAM in the Pyro enclosure.
Edmond Lai"

" I'm just updating my experience with my JoeCard G4/400/2 MB card in my 7500. MetaBox's own 3.0 drivers don't work on my system. The AltiVec support crashes my computer. PowerLogix's drivers work with the AltiVec beta drivers from their website. Except it didn't see the 2 MB of my cache. However, good news! The XLR8 2.02 cache software works perfectly with my card and all 2 MB of the cache now works perfectly...Aric P. "

V2.02 of the cache control can be downloaded at XLR8's web site (see link in sidebar there).

"Hi,
I note that a user complained last month that they could not get a Skyline PCI card to be recognized in an S900. I had a similar problem in my PowerTower Pro until I realized that the Farallon PCI card has a slot bracket that is too short, pulling the rear of the card out of the PCI slot on the motherboard when screwed down to the case.

I was able to fix this problem by removing the card, unscrewing the cards bracket assembly screws and then forcing the bracket as up and as far away from the card as possible before tightening them back down. The card then seats much better in the case (although I still had to force the card down a bit into its slot). (The bracket assembly on the card was apparently not designed to be compatible with PC clone cases.) Using the 3.0b2 drivers and firmware update, I can now use the PCI card/Skyline combo to communicate with the rest of my AirPort network.
Regards,
--Tim"

I've seen some cases with other PCI cards where the bracket needed adjusting. The height should be standard (bracket tab height, etc.) so I assume cases like this are just mfg/assembly variations, but it's something to check for during installation. (Make sure the card's PCI connector is fully/uniformly seated.)

• Newer Tech G3/466 in iMac (rated 10)
• Newer Tech G3/400 in 9600/200 (rated 10)
• Metabox G4/400 in Beige G3 (rated 7)
• Metabox G4/400 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
• Metabox G4/400 in 7600/132 (rated 10)
• Metabox G4/400 (2MB cache model) in 7500 (rated 7)
  (updated report noting that XLR8's 2.02 cache control worked well)
• Metabox G3/400 in Power Center 120 (rated 10)
• Powerlogix G3/350 in 8500/120 (rated 10)
• Powerlogix Bluechip G3/500 in PB G3 wallstreet2 (rated 1)
• Sonnet G3/400 in 6400 (rated 9)
• Sonnet G3/500 in 7500 (rated 10)
• Sonnet G3/400 in 7500/100 (rated 9)
• Sonnet G4/500 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
• XLR8 CarrierZIF w/G3 333 OWC ZIF in 7500 (rated 10)

You can find these 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.)

Software Updates:

• OmniGroup released OmniWeb 4.0 (non-beta) OS X browser, but site is swamped as I'm writing this. Here's the direct download link from their page.
• TinkerTool 1.31a (OS X tweaker)
• REALbasic Example Projects
• MP3 Rage 3.3
• Adaptec SCSI Cards OS X beta drivers

Apple TIL Updates:
• iMovie: Text Looks Strange or Is Cut Off
• QuickTime 5: Not All Keys Enable Pro Features
• iBook (Dual USB): Keyboard Layout
• iBook (Dual USB): Technical Specifications
• iBook (Dual USB): Using PowerBook G4 Adapter
• Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet): Installing Apple CPU Plugin with Mac OS X on Additional Disk
• AirPort Base Station: Optimizing AirPort Reception
• Mac OS 9: Third-Party Scripting Additions May Affect Startup
• CD-RW and SuperDrive: Specifications and Usage Information
• iMac (Early 2001): Microprocessor Thermal Pad Replacement
• AppleWorks 6: How to Set the Clippings Cache Size
  
  OS X Related
• Disk Appears Dimmed (or "Grayed Out") in the Installer

Mac News:
(Note: Rehashing of press releases, repeated news, etc. not listed)

• Apple Computer Launches Retailer in Tysons (washtech.com)
• Apple to open first store (cnet)
• Is launch of Apple's long-rumored retail-store strategy under way? (pioneerplanet)
• Microsoft Mac Unit Focuses on Profits (yahoo)
• A New Millennium For The Macintosh? (internet week)
• Getting the Mac OS X Port Running: Hints and Tips (openoffice)
• All the Questions (and Answers) You Could Ever Ask About the New iBook: Part Two (pbzone)
• Apple's updated iBook has appealing size, price (pioneerplanet)
• Can Apple score a perfect ten? (irish times)
• Deft strategy - Apple's Steve Jobs is pulling the company back from the brink again (sfgate)
• Everymac.com updated for new iBook info (everymac)
• Hands-On Report--ProMax Dual Head Graphics Card with v2.0 Drivers (macsonly)
• ATM Deluxe Won't Jump to X (macworld)
• Another bite of the Apple (zdnet)
• Wireless PC Card Modems (macworld)
• Mining for Quartz in Cocoa - Documentation Overview (stepwise)
  
  (The main news page has other news)

Misc Hardware Related:
• RAMBUS Loses SDRAM Patent Court Case (PCworld)
• Keyspan USB 2.0 Card (keyspan)
• Digital Wallet (mindsatwork)