Tech News: Apple postpones Leopard release; AACS copy protection broken again; Sony drops 20GB PlayStation 3 model in US
Andrew Scagnelli
Issue date: 4/13/07 Section: Local News
Apple announces new system, postpones OS X release
This week Apple Inc. dominated the headlines of the tech world by announcing a new, eight-core system. The new model will run two quad-core Intel processors and can support up to 4 GB of RAM. However, the new version of OS X, Apple's operating system, Version 10.5 codenamed "Leopard," was pushed back to the Fall of 2007 because of the extra time spent on the new Apple iPhone.
AACS copy protection broken yet again
AACS, the copy protection behind the HD-DVD format, was broken for the second time in as many weeks, and hot on the heels of a fix made to correct the previous patch. In this case, the "Volume Key" from the Xbox 360 HD-DVD add-on drive was compromised, allowing discs to be extracted into an unprotected format. The Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive is supposed to be the flagship model for the format, which is in direct competition with Sony's Playstation 3, the flagship for its Blu-Ray Disc (BRD) format.
Microsoft prepares to retire Windows XP
Microsoft recently announced that at the end of calendar year 2007, computer manufacturers will no longer be able to buy copies of Windows XP, despite very strong demand for the OS. Microsoft is currently promoting the recently-released 2007 Windows Vista, XP's successor. Vista itself suffered numerous delays, resulting in a longer-than-expected product lifecycle for Windows XP.
Sony drops 20GB model of the PlayStation 3 in North America.
Due to what Sony Corporation of America calls "overwhelming demand" for their higher-end 60 GB hard drive for their recently-released PlayStation 3, the 20 GB hard drive will be discontinued in North America. This action comes as a surprise as the PlayStation 3 already suffers a significant price disadvantage when compared to its main competitor, the Microsoft Xbox 360. The PlayStation 3 is now only available as a 60 GB model for $599, while the Xbox 360 is available in 3 models, a $479 "Elite" model with a 120 GB hard drive, a $399 model with a 20 GB hard drive, and a $299 model without a hard drive.
This week Apple Inc. dominated the headlines of the tech world by announcing a new, eight-core system. The new model will run two quad-core Intel processors and can support up to 4 GB of RAM. However, the new version of OS X, Apple's operating system, Version 10.5 codenamed "Leopard," was pushed back to the Fall of 2007 because of the extra time spent on the new Apple iPhone.
AACS copy protection broken yet again
AACS, the copy protection behind the HD-DVD format, was broken for the second time in as many weeks, and hot on the heels of a fix made to correct the previous patch. In this case, the "Volume Key" from the Xbox 360 HD-DVD add-on drive was compromised, allowing discs to be extracted into an unprotected format. The Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive is supposed to be the flagship model for the format, which is in direct competition with Sony's Playstation 3, the flagship for its Blu-Ray Disc (BRD) format.
Microsoft prepares to retire Windows XP
Microsoft recently announced that at the end of calendar year 2007, computer manufacturers will no longer be able to buy copies of Windows XP, despite very strong demand for the OS. Microsoft is currently promoting the recently-released 2007 Windows Vista, XP's successor. Vista itself suffered numerous delays, resulting in a longer-than-expected product lifecycle for Windows XP.
Sony drops 20GB model of the PlayStation 3 in North America.
Due to what Sony Corporation of America calls "overwhelming demand" for their higher-end 60 GB hard drive for their recently-released PlayStation 3, the 20 GB hard drive will be discontinued in North America. This action comes as a surprise as the PlayStation 3 already suffers a significant price disadvantage when compared to its main competitor, the Microsoft Xbox 360. The PlayStation 3 is now only available as a 60 GB model for $599, while the Xbox 360 is available in 3 models, a $479 "Elite" model with a 120 GB hard drive, a $399 model with a 20 GB hard drive, and a $299 model without a hard drive.
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