Year: 2001

Ever obsessed with statistics, an eTesting Labs study released by Microsoft today reveals that Windows Media Player for Windows XP launches three times faster than competing programs, starts playing an MP3 file 25 percent faster, and other rather insignificant speed comparisons.

Power On Software today announced it is giving away copies of ACTION Menus to anyone who downloads the software as the company’s way of wishing Mac users a happy holiday season. ACTION Menus adds and enhances the functionality of menus and is compatible with Mac OS 8.6-9.2 (and Classic under Mac OS X). The software normally sells for US$49.95.

MacMinute readers Brian Burton and Tadd Torborg have both posted photos from this past weekend’s Apple store opening at the Palisades Mall in West Nyack, NY.

4D, Inc., today announced the release of 4D Portal, “a comprehensive Web application that provides users with a variety of browser-based functionality within a single solution.” With 4D portal, users can create an online community complete with forums, calendar, task list, contact manager, auctions, classifieds, guestbook, and more. 4D Portal is designed with both business and personal uses in mind and is available as a free download for Mac OS 9 and Windows.

JR Hill & Co. has released two full grain leather sleeves for the iPod. The basic model (US$29.99) features a belt clip and headphone jack cut-out, while the Deluxe version ($39.99) features a clear screen protector and a cut-out for using the iPod’s controls while it’s in the case.