The last Apple iTunes update, v 4.5, already added some new functions : printing CD covers, automatically converting WMA to AAC, Apple Lossless or new audio files browsing. The new version of Tunes, v 4.6 includes support for playing your music wirelessly using AirPort Express with AirTunes. It also includes a number of other minor enhancements.

iTunes 4.6 is available via "software update" on Mac OS X prefs panel.

Just a week after the release of Core Audio driver 6.5, Digidesign just posted a new 6.5.1 version of its multi client driver. Unfortunately the 6.5 version was not the good one, and a lot of users reported bugs. The new version fixes some bugs, in particular with audio routing in Logic.

The Digidesign Core Audio Driver 6.5.1 is a free (fortunately...) download.

SEQ541 is a MIDI pattern sequencer for OS X. The program is extremely flexible, all it requires is that you have an external MIDI device generating a clock and it will output notes in time to a pattern sequence you specify. Why is SEQ541 for you?

The author: "I wrote this program because I wanted a way to control my Roland SH-32 synthesizer (which does not have a built-in sequencer) in time with a Korg ER-1 Rhythm synthesizer (which does have a built-in sequencer). It works pretty damn well for this purpose, especially live, where I would rather be playing pre-programmed melodies and basslines and tweak the knobs in real-time."

If you have a MIDI synth with a built-in sequencer, you can use SEQ541 to visually edit sequences for the device, then play then back into the device while it's recording. If you're a software synth person, SEQ541 works really well for controlling software synths like Native Instruments Absynth or Waldorf A-1 in time with your external MIDI hardware.

SupaPhaser 3.0 is an update to the phaser VST plugin by Smart Electronix. This new version features a new user interface, enhanced stereo effect, and presets. Superphaser 3.0 is available for Mac OS 10 and a version 2.0 is also available for Mac OS 9.

SuperPhaser is a donationware.

Apple today unveiled its new Power Mac G5 desktop line with every model featuring dual 64-bit PowerPC G5 processors. The top model, featuring two 2.5 GHz processors, a front-side bus running at 1.25 GHz per processor, and advanced liquid cooling starts at $2,999. The entry model, featuring dual 1.8 GHz processors, starts at just $1,999.

The Power Mac G5 line offers leading-edge expansion with dual 1.5 Gbps serial ATA interfaces, the industry's fastest PCI-X interface technology and AGP 8X Pro graphics. The Power Mac G5 comes standard with either the NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 Ultra or the ATI Radeon 9600 XT graphics card; the ATI Radeon 9800 XT high-performance graphics card is available as a build-to-order option.

All Power Mac G5 desktops include Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800 and FireWire 400 ports, three USB 2.0 ports, optical digital audio input and output, built-in support for 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme wireless networking and an optional Bluetooth module.