Type of Article: MacMinute Web Site

Sharp today introduced two new LCD displays, the 15-inch LL-T15V1 and the 18-inch LL-T1811W. The LL-T15V1 features a 1024×768 resolution, VGA connector, 300cd/m2 brightness, a 350:1 contrast ratio, and carries a US$399 price tag, while the LL-T1811W features a 1280×1024 resolution, VGA and DVI connectors, 200cd/m2 brightness, a 350:1 contrast ratio, and sells for $1,099.

After acknowledging that iTunes 2.0 for Mac OS X could cause data loss on some systems, and posting an updated version of the installer, Apple has posted a note that warns users not to perform any operation that could write data to a partition that was erased by iTunes, and suggests using either Norton Utilities or TechTool Pro—both commercial pieces of software—to fix the problem.

While Microsoft has reached an antitrust settlement with the U.S. Government, the European Commission has said it will continue its investigation against the software giant. The EU’s probe covers both Microsoft’s tactics with Windows 98 and Internet Explorer, as well as Windows Media Player.

FileMaker today announced the release of FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited, which combines the features of FileMaker Pro 5.5 with the ability to let an unlimited number of Web browsers access a FileMaker database. The software also features a new FileMaker Pro Web Companion for publishing databases instantly to an intranet or the Internet, and a Java-based FileMaker Web Server Connector for improved performance, load balancing and data security via IIS 5 and Apache Web Servers. FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited sells for US$999.

Today’s edition of the International Herald Tribune features an article discussing the reasons to buy a Mac, which touches upon Mac OS X, iPod, and Apple’s software offerings.