Brand: MacNews

America Online today debuted AOL 7, an upgraded version of the number one online service. AOL 7 features a new look, improves several existing features, offers a new focus on local content, and adds new features, including Radio@AOL, an online radio tuner, and AOL Box Office, which allows users to purchase tickets for virtually any event. The new version is not yet available to Mac users, however.

Apple has updated its PowerBook G4 and iBook configurations, improving performance and value across the board. The new PowerBook G4 is available in 550MHz (US$2,199) and 667MHz ($2,999) configurations, with 128MB and 256MB of RAM, and 20GB and 30GB hard drives, respectively. Apple has also upgraded the video card to a 16MB ATI Mobility Radeon and added Gigabit ethernet (an Apple-first, apparently), although both models continue to feature just a DVD-ROM drive (a CD-RW drive can be configured via built-to-order, but no combo drive is available).

Mac Publishing LLC has issued a press release stating that the latest IntelliQuest Computer Industry Media Study reports that the Mac publication is the “undisputed leader for coverage of the Macintosh market in terms of Mac systems installed and planned for purchase.” The study has found, that “Macworld is read by over 1.6 million business purchase influencers, and when the overlap with home influencers is considered, Macworld’s reach increases to more than 2 million purchase influencers in total.”

Archos has announced the release of the MiniCDRW II, a 16x10x24x CD-RW that they claim is the “fastest, smallest and most compact CD-writer on the market.” The new multi-connection CD-RW drive offers a choice of USB 2.0, FireWire or PC Card Interface and retails for US$179.

Insider Software has announced the release of UpdateAgent X 10.1 today with support for Mac OS X 10.1, upgraded support for FTP and HTTP protocols for downloading Macintosh application updaters, as well as several maintenance fixes. UpdateAgent is a utility that brings all Macintosh applications up-to-date, including traditional Mac Classic applications, Classic apps carbonized for Mac OS X, and Cocoa applications written specifically for Mac OS X systems.