Type of Article: MacMinute Web Site

QPS today began shipping its 8x8x32x external, US$249 USB 2.0 CD-RW drive. USB 2.0’s backwards-compatibility enables the drive to function with USB 1.1-equipped Macs (at a slower 4x write speed). Otherwise, Mac users will have to wait for Adaptec to update Toast with USB 2.0 support. USB 2.0 is a new USB protocol that’s 40 times faster than USB 1.1. At present, the technology is only available to Macs through third-party PCI cards.

Xicons has posted five new sets of icons for Mac OS X: MM Folders 3 (folders), Game Icons (games), Modern Scientists (misc.), N2MP3 (applications), and Star Wars (folders). The site is updated daily and currently offers over 2200 unique icons.

Now Up-to-Date & Contact 4.0 represents a major revision to the personal information manager. The software offers a myriad of contact and scheduling functionally for a wide variety of users, including the new ability to export data from Entourage, drag and drop integration with Office 2001, mail merge integration with Word 98/2001, and TCP/IP support. Now Up-to-Date & Contact 4.0 is currently available for US$119.95, or $10 off list price.

Pioneer today announced that it has begun shipping its DVD-RW/CD-RW combo drives to Sony for use in Sony’s soon-to-be-released VAIO PCV-RX490TV. With the system, Sony will join the ranks of Apple and Compaq in offering consumers a DVD-recorder on a system. The drive that the PCV-RX490TV users varies slightly from the SuperDrive used by Apple in that it supports DVD-rewriting as well. The Sony system will sell for US$2,499 after a $100 rebate.

A Reuters report discusses Napster’s need to align itself with major music publishers, who own the rights to the content they reproduce, and not necessarily just appease the major labels. The story also offers a perspective on the current state of Napster — presently a shadow of its former self — as well as the company’s plans moving forward.