Ad: Manage updates with the Download App
ie8 fix

News

Silverlining driver updates: La Cie responds

La Cie has written in regard to the item about Silverlining updates, posted here last time. While acknowledging that some problems exist, they contend that these problems are less widespread than the item may have suggested. They write: "We have had only a handful of reports thus far."

They add: "We have every intention of isolating these problems and taking the appropriate steps to correct product deficiencies. But sometimes the problems are caused by other areas of the Mac which have nothing to do with the Silverlining driver."

They strongly encourage you to report problems directly … Read more

DiskEssentials: update glitch; new components coming

Following up on out report from last time, several readers (including Greg Penetrante, Miles Baskett and Bob Patterson) have reported a similar problem with updating DiskEssentials from version 1.04 to 1.06: they get an "unrecoverable error in patching Code resource" when trying to apply the update to DiskRX.

Update: Kelly Leopard, of Total Recall, assures me that the update that is now on their web site will work correctly.

Bob Patterson also reports having received the following note from Total Recall: "DiskEssentials also has a few new features coming soon. We are adding DiskMinder and … Read more

Sleeper 3.0 and Mac OS 8 problems with XClaim VR and IDE CD-ROM drives;
Sleeper 3.0.1, coming soon, will fix it all

XClaim VR black screen Reader Mike recently had a problem where his monitor screen went completely black when connected to his ATI XClaim VR card. Interestingly, it only happened after upgrading to OS 8 and using Sleeper 3.0 to do an auto-shutdown of his Mac. He wrote to Jon Gotow (author of Sleeper) for any advice. Jon explained that the XClaim VR card grabs the monitor gamma settings when shutting down, and since Sleeper has set the screen to dim before it shuts the system down, that is the setting the card saves. Then, upon restart, it restores the … Read more

Post-Week-End Updates

File Buddy 4.3 is out. So is Font Manager 3.7.3. And what would an update list be without a new version of CopyThru (3.1)? Descriptions of these programs are in the Download Library.

Rumor has it that much anticipated Speed Doubler 8 will be out this week. Watch the Connectix web site for an official announcement.

Myrmidon 2.0 is a major upgrade to Terry Morse's fine program for converting a document from any application into a Web page - with just one click. "Thanks to its exclusive Wizzy-Web technology, Myrmidon creates a Web … Read more

Quake and modem port glitches

A reader reports that Quake v1.08.2 caused the Chooser to shift his printer to the modem port. On a likely related note, another reader could not get Quake to recognize the internal modem on his 3400; it kept saying the modem ports was in use.

New Mac newsletter Tracy Valleau, editor of Mac Hot Tips Weekly for Mac Home Journal, has begun a new monthly email-only newsletter aimed at the average Macintosh user. Billed as "Master your Mac for a Buck" the publication costs $1 per issue. Check out his web site for more info and … Read more

Power3D card and AppleVision glitch

Frank Danella writes: "The new Power3D card from Techworks works beautifully except that it disables the custom adjustment features of the AppleVision 1710 monitor. The Monitors and Sound Control Panel gets abbreviated to the basic functions and the computer thinks it's now connected to an ordinary VGA monitor. TechWorks tech support confirmed this and added '...there's nothing you can do about it except use a switchbox.'"

Odds & Ends

Battery info One of the most frequently asked questions at MacFixIt is: "Where do I go to find out how to change my Mac's internal battery?" For starters, go to the Macintosh Logic Board Battery Information page. We have listed this link before, but because this issue comes up so often, I am also adding it to the MacFixIt Links page.

Update: Several readers have pointed out that GURU offers similar information, including part numbers for specific brands.

Energy Saver and 8600/300: a follow-up Regarding the Energy Saver problem reported last time for the Power Mac … Read more

New Macs coming and new ways to get them

The first 750 (Arthur, G3) CPU-based Macs from Apple are expected to ship in November (as reported in MacWEEK).

Meanwhile, POWERtools has just announced a new line of clones, called X-Factor, that come with the 750 chip - available now.

Apple is changing the way Macs get distributed to its reseller channel. For details and a mostly positive view of what this means, check out this MacWEEK article. For a more critical assessment, read this article from news.com.

Think Different: Apple's ad on Toy Story

Definition of a true Mac fanatic: A person who watched Toy Story last night mainly to see the new Apple advertisement, rather than the movie.

I saw it. I liked it. It was attention-grabbing and the message was effectively delivered. Still, I have lingering doubts about commercials that never actually directly mention the product they are trying to sell. It worked for Dockers, but at least they showed the pants. In any case, my best wishes for success go to Apple on this new campaign. It certainly beats the non-campaign that preceded it.

P.S. For those that missed the … Read more