New version of AppleWorks coming: AppleWorks X

Amazon.co.uk has listed a new book by Nolan Hester, titled Appleworks X for MAC OS X: Visual QuickStart Guide. This seems to be a new book, with a different title and different ISBN number from the previous book, AppleWorks 6 for Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide, published 4 years earlier.

Now what about Keynote 2?

Xcode 1.5 and iPhoto 4.0.3 now out

iPhoto 4.0.2 was recently released, and then promptly pulled. iPhoto 4.0.3 was released shortly afterwards. For the Mac OS X developers in the crowd, Apple has also released Xcode 1.5.

What is new in iPhoto 4.0.3

This update addresses several issues with using multiple text rules in Smart Albums and it also eliminates some problems with creating iPhoto books in the German and Dutch languages. Additionally, 4.0.3 keeps users informed about new version of iPhoto that have become available.

New in Xcode 1.5:

Dead-code stripping
Remote debugging
gcc 3.3 improvments for speed and -fast robustness
Code completion for Java and AppleScript
Subversion source-code control system support
Native build system support for AppleScript
Enhanced debugger with memory and globals browsers, as well as the ability to display file static variables
Faster editor performance
Ant templates
Documentation bookmarks
Speed improvements

2.5 GHz dual G5s trickling in

The first 2.5 GHz machines were delivered this week, much to the delight of Mac forums everywhere. ;) However, it seems that many people still have August 20 ship dates, so there does still seem to be limited 970FX supply. Interestingly, there is some evidence that new G5 2.0 (not 2.5) GHz Power Macs may indeed be using 970FX chips as well (instead of the 970). I will keep everyone posted as new information on this surfaces.

If the new Power Macs are truly shipping with 970FX chips, one wonders what this means for the iMac G5. Can IBM keep up with simultaneous demand for 2.0 GHz 970FX Xserves (low volume), 2.0 GHz 970FX iMacs (high volume), and 2.0 GHz 970FX Power Macs (high volume)? Will Apple limit the iMac G5 to 1.8 GHz? Or could Apple ship a 2.2 GHz G5 20" iMac?

Virginia Tech's new System X pictures online

Virginia Tech has put up a gallery of its new completed G5 Xserve based System X supercomputer.

As mentioned in a previous article, the system is already being benchmarked. A link to the continually updated top 500 list is also provided in that article.

Steve Jobs undergoes surgery to remove a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour

Steve Jobs underwent surgery to have a pancreatic tumour removed this weekend. In an email to employees, he wrote:

Team,
I have some personal news that I need to share with you, and I wanted you to hear it directly from me. This weekend I underwent a successful surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from my pancreas. I had a very rare form of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor, which represents about 1% of the total cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed each year, and can be cured by surgical removal if diagnosed in time (mine was). I will not require any chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

The far more common form of pancreatic cancer is called adenocarcinoma, which is currently not curable and usually carries a life expectancy of around one year after diagnosis. I mention this because when one hears "pancreatic cancer" (or Googles it), one immediately encounters this far more common and deadly form, which, thank god, is not what I had.

I will be recuperating during the month of August, and expect to return to work in September. While I'm out, I've asked Tim Cook to be responsible for Apple's day to day operations, so we shouldn't miss a beat. I'm sure I'll be calling some of you way too much in August, and I look forward to seeing you in September.

Steve

PS: I'm sending this from my hospital bed using my 17-inch PowerBook and an Airport Express.

"Neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas" is somewhat of a generic term and while some of these tumours can sometimes be quite aggressive, most fortunately are relatively low grade and slow growing. (A few of you might have heard the term "carcinoid" used for some of these latter low grade tumours.) Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours are distinct from the more common ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, which has an extremely poor prognosis even after surgery.

He has not stated the exact details of his situation, but it does sound like his prognosis is good. The lesion was was felt to be removed completely (likely either by a Whipple procedure, or a distal pancreatectomy, depending on the location of the tumour), and he won't need chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

We wish him well.

PS: I love that post script. That Steve... Always the salesman. ;) Oh and I'm sending this from my couch using my 15-inch PowerBook and wireless 802.11b. :)