" New Features in AirPort 2.1.1

This software includes the latest version of the snow (dual-Ethernet) base station firmware - v4.0.7. This new firmware fixes potential issues with sending email when connected to VerizonĘ DSL services and improves compatibility when posting messages or sending email through secure web sites. Instructions for updating the base station firmware are listed at the end of this document.

There is a new checkbox in the AirPort tab of the AirPort Admin Utility that allows the base station administrator to enable or disable configuration of the base station over the WAN port - "Enable Configuration on WAN." Configuration over the WAN port is enabled by default. Disabling this checkbox also does not publish the base stations' Rendezvous information over the WAN port.

When enabling Internet Sharing over AirPort (commonly referred to as a Software Base Station) you can enter a quoted or hex-escaped password. This provides compatibility with Windows or other wireless clients that require an Equivalent Network Password. If you have questions, see your network administrator for additional information on the WEP encryption key or password that you are using.

There is a pull-down selection to create a 128-bit encrypted Computer to Computer Network in the AirPort Menu Extra.

This updated base station firmware is recommended for customers that have problems initiating connections through certain ISP services or successfully browsing secure websites.

This version of AirPort is compatible with AOL 5.0 in the U.S. only. Simultaneous sharing of an AOL connection requires multiple AOL accounts. "

I didn't see this update show up on a Mac with OS X 10.1.5 or OS 9.2.2 as of 2:30 PM Eastern Time. (Update - Ross sent a link to the Apple kbase doc for Airport 2.1.1 which notes OS 10.2 or later as required.)
I installed the update on my PB G4 (10.2.1) and after the restart it seems fine still with my Siemens SpeedStream base station. (I'm always a bit hesitant to update Airport software since I switched base stations and the fact I haven't had any problems, but so far so good.)
Note Restart after the update, even if you're not forced to.

New in Toast 5.2:
- CD TEXT: Toast now writes CD TEXT information for disc name and track titles to recorded audio discs. This information is viewable in CD audio players that display CD TEXT. Writing CD TEXT is supported on most MMC3-compliant recorders.

Note: Some recorders that follow the CD TEXT specification may have unpredictable results, including unplayable media. We recommend testing CD TEXT on your recorder before using this feature regularly.

- Support for Mac OS X 10.2.

Improved in Toast 5.2:
- VideoCD: The Toast VideoCD QuickTime codec has been enhanced to support multiple G4 processors. It also avoids a conversion of DV source video into RGB color space during the encoding process, resulting in more accurate preservation of color and contrast.

- Enhanced Quartz text rendering for improved usability.

- Support for 52x recorders.

Note - if you applied the "gm" 5.2 update last week and deleted the previous version, a reinstall is required Roxio says. Most readers that saw problems with the 'gm' 5.2 updater didn't trash the previous version that is left intact - but one reader did. Also one reader said even this official 5.2 release crashes for him. It runs fine here so far on the PB G4 in 10.2.1. (Note - I've had several emails that said 5.2 doesn't run if the user has a s/n that isn't legit or is one that has been on a warez listing. Don't know if that is true, but just a FYI. If you have problems with 5.2 starting up/crashing - see the tip in Thursday's news)

From a reader email sent to me and other mac sites. I don't own an Apple laserwriter but posting this as a FYI:

" Heya, I finally got around to writing up a how-to article for anyone experiencing missing feeder tray options with Apple LaserWriter printers.

Solving LaserWriter Problems in OS X 10.2.x
http://sciencequest.org/jump/laserwriter_issues_x.html

I'm still developing a workaround for printing the first page from tray X and subsequent pages from tray Y; hopefully OS X 10.1.3 will come out with a fix before I have to.
Cheers
Frederico "

Another reader replied:

" The news item about the missing laserwriter feeder options is useful, but I believe the author of the website is going at it the wrong way. The most simple way to add those missing options is to go into the Print Center where you can see a list of your printers. Click on the printer and do a Get Info. You will see a menu where you can select "Installable Options". Just click on the trays that you want to make active.

It's not the most intuitive place to provide this functionality but the UI is still young.
Tan "

Frederico then replied to Tan's comments:

" Hi Mike,
I saw the response to my OS X LaserWriter workaround; I guess I should have stated in the article that the options the reader mentions don't always appear on many machines, especially older ones; further, even when they do, it doesn't always make the options actually work. The workaround I posted, has, so far, overcome whatever is defective in those option panels.
I will update the article when I get a chance to avoid similar confusion.
Thanks
Frederico "

"The Pro-53 update is now available on Native Instruments website and can be downloaded at www.nativeinstruments.de/index.php?pro53updates_us.
This major upgrade of NI's legendary virtual analog synth comes with many new functions and improvements.
A new oscillator technology provides a decidedly more brilliant, and warmer sound. Additional new features are a high-pass filter mode, invertable filter envelopes and a retrigger option for envelopes. The PRO-53 is now also equipped with a MIDI Learn function for fast and convenient integration of hardware MIDI controllers and the option to load controller maps. The PRO-53 comes with an optimized graphical interface as well as 64 new sounds that take full advantage of the extended functions.
For more information please go to http://www.ni-pro53.com."

iPod Software 1.2.1 fixes a problem with the battery icon. It now correctly indicates a full charge.

I wonder if this helps with the problems I and others have seen (early ipods at least) where the battery icon may show 2 or 3 bars but actually have little to no charge left.
Note - one reader asked if this reduced the audio level (a problem noted recently that required iPods to be pulled from France due to too high a level (>100db) per law there as I remember.) It's not mentioned by Apple as part of the update however.

IDE Toshiba SD-R2212 (16x10x24x + 8x DVD ROM)
iBook 2001 running OS X
Comments:
"After previously upgrading my ibook to the SD-R2002 combo drive, I came across this new drive on ebay by accident. Once I saw the 16x burn speed, I had to have it.

Booted Jaguar disc no problem. Drive was not recognized in itunes until I hacked the driver. DVD, CD's work fine. I had some problems with CD-Rs being recognized at first. I thought the drive may be defective. I then realized the drive did not like cheap CD-Rs. I put a name brand CD-R in and it worked fine. Burned at 16x speed. I went to my local Apple service center and ordered the door for $30. Attached no problem.
Rick"

If Rick sends a copy of the plugin file I'll add it to the FAQ's CDROM/CDR section.

" www.nikon-euro.com/nikoneuro2/download/fotoshare/nview513.htm
Still slow like molasses but some basic features previously unavailable for MacOS 10.2 are now there like download from camera.
Doug
(I don't own a Nikon camera so I asked for more info on his)

Using a D-100 with NikonView (and Nikon Capture 3.1). The autodownload and other features didn't not work in 10.2 until NV 5.1.3. I think it was the OS rather than the camera that was not supported. The camera has always been recognized by name in the Exif data.
Super camera, btw. All my old Nikon lenses work like a charm. "

" hi mike (and thanks as always for the best mac resource ever)- i think i might have prompted the knowledge bass isolation transformer addition to the Apple kBase- or at least your receiving the news coincides exactly with me getting my new dp867 tower and complaining of a ground loop problem with my yamaha o1v mixer and home stereo (which i only set up as a test). (Last week there was also a thread started here on the same issue from a reader with a new G4-Mike)
wanted to add a few things to the post if i could:

1.) my b&w 400 and my ibook don't have a groundloop problem in this same setup in my audio workstation.

2.) the isolation cable (an rca with a tiny box in the middle for $15 at the shack) does not eliminate the problem- it does help quite a bit, but that's different. the isolation transformer (a big box that you plug things into like a UPS) was not available at my local Shack store and i saw them online for $160 and up.

3.) the kbase describes the problem as being specific to 'balanced' inputs like those used in pro audio gear. the claim their product works without hassles with most unbalanced setups like home stereo's. this isn't true for me- both my mixer and my home stereo have the ground loop problem and both are unbalanced inputs.

i'm hoping osX drivers for my motu2408 soundcard make this a nonissue for me, but for now i'm not too pleased with the idea that the solution from apple is for me to spend $160 when legacy hardware exhibits no such problems. could the noisiness of the unit be contributing to this problem (all the fans i mean)??

the tech said, 'those older macs have a headphone jack, while the new mac has a "line out" which is grounded differently'.
whatever.
matt h "

" Mike,
In theory people having ground loop problems should be able to disconnect the ground lead from either their XLR or Mini plugs if they are plugged into an AC circuit sharing the same ground. At my work we do this same thing, we ground the balanced audio on our router heads but on the equipment we leave the ground unhooked.

People wanting to cheat at converting balanced audio to non-balanced audio can wire a cable like this.

Wire the XLR end normal. On say the mini plug end, wire XLR High to the mini plug Tip and XLR Low and Ground the mini plug Sleeve. For stereo the sleeve of the mini plug will be shared with Low and Ground of both XLRs and the High of the second (right) channel going to Ring. If you get a ground loop from this setup then leave off the Ground on the mini plug end. I've been told this isn't the correct way to do this, a matching transformer is but it's worked for me many times.

XLR's are pinned out like this:

Pin 1 - Ground
Pin 2 - Signal High
Pin 3 - Signal Low

Mini Plugs like this:
Tip - Left channel +
Ring - Right Channel +
Sleeve - Ground

Hope this helps,
Brad "

• Other World Computing G4/550 in Beige G3 (rated 9)
• Powerlogix G4/1GHz in G4/ Cube (rated 9)
• Powerlogix G4/1GHz in G4/Cube (rated 8)
• Sonnet G4/800 in 8600/300 (rated 9)
• Sonnet G4/800 in 8600/200 (rated 7)
• Sonnet G3/500 in B&W G3 (rated 10)
• XLR8 G4/500 in B&W G3 (rated 10)
• XLR8 G4/550 in G4/AGP (rated 9)
• Apple G4/AGP (QS 867) OC report

(Warning - Overclocking may not be reliable and could lead to hardware failure or corrupted data.) You can find the full reports by searching the database selecting the indicated Mac model and upgrade card brand/type. If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, please post an entry in the database. Search the database for entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand). For detailed reviews with performance tests and install tips, see the CPU Upgrades page.)

MultiMedia Card Reader Reports:
• USB Jenoptik SD/MMC Card reader used w/7500 (OS X)
  (noted working w/o addon drivers in OS 9.2-10.2)
  
  SmartMedia Card Reader Reports:
• USB PQI Travel Flash used w/B&W G3 (OS X)
  (noted working with 10.2 w/o addon drivers)
  
  DVD-R DVD Recorder Drive Reports:
• IDE Cendyne (repackaged Pioneer DVR-104) in Dual G4 DDR (OS X)
  (problems noted - cendyne may have changed the firmware drive ID)
  
  Combo DVD-CDR Drive Reports:
• IDE Toshiba SD-R2212 (16x10x24x + 8x DVD ROM) in iBook 2001 (OS X)
  
  IDE CDRW Drive Reports:
• Lite-On LTR-48125W (48x12x48) in B&W G3 (OS X)
  (not bootable, supported by OS X/iTunes)
  (FYI - Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT, B&W G3 and 8600/9600 Macs)
• TDK VeloCD 48x in Dual G4 DDR (OS X)
  (problems noted)
  
  Firewire CDRW Drive Reports:
• Lite-On LTR-40125S 40x12x48x in Pyro FW case used w/Powerbook G4 (OS X) (problems noted - typical with Pryo case + faster Lite-On drives)
  
  IDE Hard Drive Reports:
• IBM 60GXP 60GB in B&W G3 (OS 9.2)
• IBM 75GXP 30GB in B&W G3 (OS 9.2)
  (Illustrated guide to adding a 2nd HD here in B&W G3 to G4 QS models)
• Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 40GB in iMac (OS 8.6)
• Western Digital 1200JB (8 MB cache) in Dual G4 DDR (OS X)
• Western Digital WD800BB (2MB cache) 80GB in 7600 using IDE PCI card (OS 8.6) (noted warm restart hang, cold boot ok. 3rd party HD drivers likely a fix)
  
  Firewire Hard Drive Reports:
• EZQuest Cobra 120GB used w/iMac slot loading (OS X)
  (noted iMovie capture problems until installing 1GB or ram)
• Maxtor 3000DV (7200rpm) 80GB used w/B&W G3 (OS 9.2)
• Maxtor 3000XT (7200rpm) 160GB used w/B&W G3 (OS 9.2)
  (problems noted - directory corruption)
  
  SCSI Hard Drive Reports:
• Seagate ST32550N 2GB in 6115 (OS 8.6)

You can find full owner reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). For guides to installing CD/CDRW/DVD drives or Hard drives in many mac models, see the IDE Articles page. The Firewire articles page also has guides on case kits, installing drives, etc.
If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. make sure you add a report to the database. [If you post an updated entry - make sure you use the same name, etc. as you did before so I can find your past entry. Thanks.]
(Entries today will be added the following newsday. Incomplete entries are deleted. Do not post questions in the database, it's for drive reports not questions on what drive to buy - for that try searching the database for reports from owners of your mac model on the drive type/brand/interface, etc. you're interested in.)

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• 2 years ago today
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