Location Manager for OS X, TiBook Handle, WallStreet Fan Bugfix, IOGear Mini Mouse, and More

Compiled by Charles Moore and edited by Dan Knight - March 8, 2002

Except as noted, prices are in US dollars.

• Location X 1.0.2 OS X Location Manager
• TiBook Tote & Tilt Handle for TiBook
• WallStreet "Fan on During Sleep" Bug Fix for Mac OS X
• XPower Autoplug Provides AC Power on the Road
• TiBook Hinge Failure
• IOGear Makes Mini Mouse for Mobile Users
• Triumph Technology ME-910 FW to IDE Enclosures
• Bargain 'Books

Location X 1.0.2 OS X Location Manager

Location X brings Location Manager functionality from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X. Location X allows you to change network, time zone, email settings, and more all at once with a single click.

The perfect solution for PowerBook and iBook users.

Macintosh portable users who travel between different locations often have to reconfigure their Macs for use at home, school, the office, the hotel, the east coast office, China (you get the picture). Configuring Location X to do this for you is easy using its intuitive and elegant Aqua interface. Now using your laptop in different places is a snap.

Location X was designed to allow third parties to develop plug-ins that will allow you to change even more settings than those provided in the Location X package. The developers will soon be publishing this interface to allow developers to enhance and extend Location X. In the meantime, you can use Location X's built in plugins that let you change your network configuration, Apple Mail settings, time zone, and QuickTime connection speed. Check back frequently for new plug-ins.

System requirements: Mac OS X 10.1.3

Location X is $10.00 demoware  

TiBook Tote & Tilt Handle for TiBook

Tote your PowerBook G4 using the Tote & Tilt handle. Tilt it to allow for air circulation under your PowerBook, helping to increase battery life and performance.

Features:

• Easy access to rear data ports
• Installs in five minutes
• Attaches to the TiBook by removing the four screws on the hinges and replacing them with slightly longer screws (included) that go through the handle and into the original holes.
• Does not void warranty
• 100% handmade in the USA.
• All aluminum construction for lightness & sturdiness
• Color powder coated to complement the PowerBook

Price: $44.95

iBook 2001 Tote & Tilt

You can also tote your dual USB iBook by a handle. Tilt to allow air circulation under your iBook. Installs in less than five minutes. The handle does not void warranty and is made in the USA. Color matches iBook.

Price: $29.95

WallStreet "Fan on During Sleep" Bug Fix for Mac OS X

Juan Cabanela notes that:

"Ever since Mac OS X came out, there has been a very annoying bug for WallStreet PowerBook users. If you place the WallStreet to sleep, and then unplug it, the fan in the PowerBook comes on and will not turn off. This rapidly drains the battery, somewhat eliminating the benefit of placing the system to sleep.

"Thankfully, it turns out the bug can be traced to code in the open source part of Mac OS X . . . Darwin. I found a fix for the WallStreet sleep bug by digging around Apple's Darwin Open Source website. In a nutshell, the problem lies in the AppleHeathrow.kext extension in the /System/Library/Extensions directory. Patching this extension to turn of a particular chip during sleep seems to fix the problem.

"The bug is documented as CPU/Software bug 2577132 where you will be happy to learn it is listed as a 'serious bug.' The fix was actually originally documented as System/Services Bug 2817409 and basically involves downloading the source for the AppleHeathrow.kext extension and patching it. The last note (dated 1/31/02) for bug report 2577132 says 'Please verify in future release6B28 or better,' so I suspect it will be rolled into the OS shortly enough.

"For those who can't wait . . . I am making the patched version of the AppleHeathrow.ext extension available online. It was compiled on my WallStreet PowerBook under MacOS X 10.1.2 with the Apple Developer Kit from December 2001. It appears to work fine under MacOS X 10.1.3, since the AppleHeathrow.ext extension was not on the list of items changed under 10.1.3)."

XPower Autoplug Provides AC Power on the Road

Xantrex Technology's new XPower Autoplug 75 plugs into your car's cigarette lighter socket and converts it to an AC outlet.

This device is ideal for charging and using cell phones, laptop computers, portable DVD players, and hard drive MP3 players. Just plug in the desired products AC power cord into the Autoplug and you're good to go.

"The XPower Autoplug is a compact and economical tool that is ideal for busy people who have to spend a lot of time in their cars," said Lawrence Neill, Director of Consumer Markets for Xantrex. "Since it's compatible with numerous electronic devices, users don't have to worry about carrying multiple adapters for each of their mobile appliances.

XPower Autoplug 75 is the smallest power inverter on the market today. It incorporates high frequency technology to convert power from the vehicle's battery (12-volt DC) into standard utility power (110 VAC, 60 Hz). The adapter provides a single, three-prong connection for running and recharging many electrical devices. Instead of special DC chargers, users can plug the same AC charger used at home into the XPower Autoplug. A typical car battery will power a laptop computer for about ten to twelve hours.

The XPower Autoplug is scheduled to be available this month and will retail for $30.

TiBook Hinge Failure

PowerPage Associate Editor Peter Kirn would like to know if any other TiBook users have suffered catastrophic screen hinge failure. Peter's PowerBook G4/400's hinge broke last week, severing half his LCD from the machine.

Peter says that the breakage occurred during normal use, and he first noticed the break upon opening his well-padded case. "Close inspection suggests that stress over time and poor design contributed to a fracture in the hinge around the two metal screws that affix it to the case," he explains. "In 18 years of computers, I've never had a machine physically break."

IOGear Makes Mini Mouse for Mobile Users

IOGear has simplified portable computing with the launch of its miniature USB optical mouse, Mini Mouse.

Designed specifically for the mobile professional, the tiny peripheral is smaller than a credit card (3.5" x 1.5" x 1.75"), providing users with an easy-to-use, space-saving solution. It provides superior optical sensor tracks to enable smooth precision movements on any surface. Mini Mouse has no moving parts to clean and requires no mousepad. The PC and Mac compatible mouse is priced at $29.95 (MSRP) and is available immediately from all major catalog resellers, online resellers and selected retail outlets.

"Conducting business while on the move makes it difficult for mobile workers to use standard, trackball mice that don't operate on most surfaces," said Miranda Su, director of sales and marketing at IOGear, Inc. "Designed with optical sensors, Mini Mouse is the perfect solution to make mobile computing simple and hassle-free. With no cleaning required and no need for a mousepad, the product is a great portable tool."

Mini Mouse has an ergonomic design for comfortable use and optically tracks movement 1500 times per second. It is USB 1.1 compliant, Plug-N-Play and Hot Swappable. The peripheral works Mac OS X or later, and comes equipped with a leather carrying case and the company's three-year limited warranty.

Triumph Technology ME-910 FW to IDE Enclosures

The PowerBook Zone's Doug Landry says:

"We are pleased to announce stock of the best 2.5" enclosure we've seen yet, the Triumph Technology ME-910. Compared to others that we've used, the ME-910 is the most compact and provides the easiest installation with no screws to attach the outer two halves. It includes the super-fast Oxford 911 chip, 3' FW cable, padded carrying case, installation instructions, two color accent panels, and a no-questions-asked lifetime replacement/refund warranty for $99."

Bargain 'Books

There are two different versions of WallStreet running at 233 MHz, the cacheless MainStreet version and the later Series II with a level 2 cache. It's not always possible to determine from the vendor's listing which is being offered, so we've included links within this paragraph to the two models.

Small Dog Electronics

• iBook G3/366, indigo, 64/10 GB/CD/Airport/56k/FW, $949
• iBook G3/300, tangerine, 32/3 GB/CD/56K, $699
• PowerBook Pismo G3/400, 64/10 GB/DVD/56K/FireWire, $1,099

MaxResQ

• PowerBook WallStreet G3/266, 64/4 GB/20x CD/56k/10Base-T/14.1", $799.99
• iBook SE G3/366, graphite, 64/6 GB/24x/56k, $799.99

PowerMax

• PowerBook WallStreet G3/233, 32/2 GB HD/CD/12", $649
• PowerBook Lombard G3/333, 64/4 GB HD/CD/56k/14.1", free Targus Carry Case, $788
• iBook 300, tangerine, 96/3 GB/CD/56k, $799
• PowerBook Titanium G4/667, 512/30 GB/DVD-ROM/56K/AirPort, $2,749. Get a free Lexmark Z23 printer - PowerMax will charge $50, offset by a $50 rebate from Lexmark