Year: 2001

MacNN notes that Apple is offering an upgrade option for PowerBook G4 (550MHz-667MHz) owners to the company’s recently announced DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo drive for Titanium G4 PowerBooks. Apple’s Web site states that “the PowerBook G4 Combo Upgrade Program will be offered worldwide from January 14 – March 30, 2002. Customers should check the Apple Web site starting January 14 for further details on how to place an order.” The price for this upgrade is US$299.

Microsoft has released Internet Explorer 5.1, a new version of its popular Web browser for OS 8/9. Version 5.1 adds greater control over the application’s user interface, support for NTLM version 2 authentication (in addition to previous support for NTML v1) and general enhancements that provide improved reliability and compatibility.

The IEEE standards body has approved a new wireless standard, IEEE 802.11g, that operates in the 2.4GHz waveband and provides speeds of up to 54mbps, according to ZDNet. Another wireless LAN standard that was previously approved, IEEE 802.11a, also provides speeds of up to 54mbps but operates in the 5GHz waveband. Industry analysts expect 802.11a to take the leading role in next-generation wireless LAN devices due to its earlier arrival and backwards compatibility with existing 802.11b (AirPort) devices.

AdCritic, the popular Web site that featured a large archive of television and radio ads, has closed its doors citing the difficult economic environment. Although all the media was recorded and encoded using PCs, AdCritic delivered its content exclusively with QuickTime, after finding Apple’s technology to be superior to that of competitors. AdCritic says it hopes to be able to launch again down the road.

Aspyr Media today announced that it will release Return to Castle Wolfenstein, a World War II-era action game from id Software and Gray Matter Studios, for Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X in late January, according to MacCentral. The title is currently being converted to the Mac at Westlake Interactive and will be on display at Macworld Conference and Expo next month in San Francisco.