Brand: MacNews

Gibson Guitar Corp. has released the Opcode music sequencing applications, Vision DSP 4.5.1 and Studio Vision Pro 4.5.1, as freeware, reports WorkingMac.com. Both titles were released in the summer of 1999, and as such Gibson recommends using Mac OS 8.6 or earlier; Mac OS 9 compatibility is unclear. Also released as a free download is OMS, which enables user control of MIDI devices in Mac OS 8/9 applications.

Market researcher Multimedia Research Institute today released numbers showing that 12.3 million personal computers were shipped in Japan in 2001, a drop of 7.1 percent from the previous year, according to Reuters. Notebooks made up 56 percent of total shipments. Multimedia Research expects shipments in 2002 to further decline to 11.5 million.

Fujifilm today introduced three new digital cameras:

• FinePix F601 Zoom – 3.1 megapixel, 3x optical zoom, 4.4x digital zoom, image voice annotation, shutter speeds ranging from three to 1/2000 of a second, adjustable ISO sensitivity, movie capture at up to 15 frames per second; available in April for US$599
• FinePix S602 Zoom – 3.1 megapixel, 6x optical zoom, full manual photographic controls, dual auto-focus system, support for both SmartMedia and CompactFlash, shutter speeds rangin
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Apple’s famous “1984” commercial is referenced in an interesting Wall Street Journal [paid subscription required] article that examines Super Bowl advertising. The spot is also the first of five ads that are referenced as being among the greatest of all-time. Others include Master Lock’s “Sharpshooter,” Pepsi’s “Apartment 10-G” that starred Michael J. Fox, McDonald’s “Showdown” featuring Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, and EDS’ “Cat Herders” spot from 2000.

Maine Governor Angus King today shot back at critics of his US$25 million plan to supply all seventh and eight grade students in the state with Apple iBooks in the Lewiston Sun Journal. King said that cancelling the plan now would be “incredibly short-sighted” and an embarrassment to the state after receiving positive national attention. The plan has been under intense scrutiny as the state faces a multi-million dollar budget shortfall.