Brand: MacNews

JR Hill & Co. has begun offering new vinyl screen protectors for Apple’s iBook, PowerBook G3, and PowerBook G4. The screen protectors prevent the portable’s keyboard from rubbing against the screen when closed, which otherwise can leave marks behind. The iBook and PowerBook G3 screen protectors are available for US$6.99, while the PowerBook G4 version sells for $9.99. JR Hill & Co. also offer a full grain leather screen protector for the PowerBook G4 for $17.49.

MacMinute reader Geir Arne Brevik notes that Apple has just launched online Apple Stores for Norway and Denmark, bringing online convenience and build-to-order flexibility to those two countries.

Prudential Securities and Credit Suisse First Boston have both cut their earings outlooks for Apple. Prudential Securities analyst Kimberly Alexy cut her estimate for fiscal 2002 earnings to 45 cents per share from 61 cents per share, while Credit Suisse First Boston analyst Kevin McCarthy cut his 2002 earnings per share estimate to 25 cents from 30 cents. Added McCarthy, “We believe the stock will remain in a $14-20 range over the next few quarters.”

Opera has released Opera X 5.0b2, the second public beta of the Carbonized version of its alternative Web browser. The new version adds a number of improvements and changes, including file upload support, autofill of forms, improved local browsing, cookie filtering, and more. With this beta, Opera has also added banners to the Web browser, which can be removed if you register the browser for US$39.

Shares of Apple are trading up more than US$1.00 this morning, recouping their losses from yesterday, after Apple posted a $66 million profit, beating Wall Street’s expectations.