Brand: MacNews

Apple’s new PowerBook G4 and iBook models, introduced today, ship with a new, square-shaped power adapter, which is backwards compatible with the older, “yo-yo” adapters. The adapter features built-in hooks to wrap the cord around (reminiscent of power adapters that came with some of the earliest PowerBook models), LED lights that display the charging status, and an AC cord that allows the PowerBook or iBook to be plugged into an outlet up to 12 feet.

Apple has posted a feature showcasing Sacrifice, an upcoming 3D real-time strategy game from MacPlay. The game, developed for OS 8/9 and Mac OS X, puts players in the role of a powerful wizard that must command a vast army of mystical characters, and decide whether to appease or infuriate one of five gods. Sacrifice also features multi-player gameplay, with support for GameRanger.

Metrowerks has begun shipping CodeWarrior for Palm OS 8.0, a new version of its development tools for creating Palm OS applications in either Mac or Windows environments. Among the features new to this version are project wizards that automate the creation of new applications, an enhanced C++ compiler, enhanced debugger, and a 100-page tutorial. CodeWarrior for Palm OS 8.0 sells for US$499.

Along with new PowerBooks and iBooks, Apple today also began quietly shipping dual-800MHz Power Mac G4 Server configurations, notes The Register. At US$3,799, the entry-level model commands a $300 premium over the Power Mac G4 (non-server) configuration, but features a CD-RW drive in place of the SuperDrive and a standard GeForce2 MX video card instead of the TwinView model. Otherwise, the specs between the two models are identical (256MB RAM, 80GB ATA HD).

Sony has dropped the price of its Clie PEG-S320 handheld from US$199 to $169. The new price allows the Clie S320 to better compete with Palm’s $149 m105, although with its built-in Memory Stick slot, the S320 offers expansion capabilities that rival Palm’s $249 m125.