Apple asks some users of some Mac Pro et iMac Core 2 Duo to upgrade the firmware of their hard drive. Time to back up and update… If the automatic update doesn't ask you to, don't do it! You're not concerned (or precisely, your hard drive).

"The Hard Drive Update 1.0 includes bug fixes and important updates for the following systems:
• iMac Core 2 Duo (Mac OS X 10.4.7 or later)
• Mac Pro (Mac OS X 10.4.7 or later)

To complete the firmware update process, please follow the instructions in the updater application (/Applications/Utilities/Hard Drive Update 1.0.app). The updater will launch automatically when the Installer closes.'

Native Instruments update Kontakt to 3.01. The new stuff:
- New CPU management according to the instrument type.
- EDIT mode revised
- Distorsion, Saturation and synth filter revised.
- Faster search in the database.
- New patches.
- New manual
- New manual part: "script language".
- A start up guide and localized versions of the manual of Kontakt 3.

Fixed bugs:
- Some cosmetics
- No more freeze with Cubase 4 and Spectrasonics
- Various libraries fixes
- …

Ambrosia Software brings us its Wiretap Studio 1.0.1, an audio recording and management solution. This update goes into:
• Full Mac OS X Leopard 10.5 compatibility
• Finer-grained VU meters in Preferences->Source that better indicate average and peak values
• Export drop zone now includes iPhone, to drag your audio clips to your iPhone for use as custom ringtones
• Fixed a bug that could cause a freeze on Leopard if the OS was installed via an upgrade install
• Fixed an issue on Leopard when registering for all users immediately after installlation which could cause the registration to fail
• Numerous other fixes and enhancements

Wiretap requires OS X 10.4 or better. Ambrosia Wiretap Studio 1.0.1 costs $69, the upgrade for registered users is $30 (excluding OEM bundled versions). Competitive upgrades are available.

Apple updates today QuickTime to 7.3 and iTunes to 7.5. The last requires the 7.3 version of QuickTime. iTunes 7.5 brings support for iPhone activation anywhere it's available and for a musical game on the iPod nano, classic, and 5G, plus bug fixes and performance enhancements.

We strongly suggest not to update in a pro environment or if you're using Pro Tools or Logic with sound to image jobs on the go. At least until the road is known to be safe, that is.

"About QuickTime 7.3 for Leopard
QuickTime 7.3 addresses critical security issues and delivers:
- Support for iTunes 7.5
- Updated support for creating iPhone-compatible web content
- Updated JavaScript support in the QuickTime Web Plug-in
- Numerous bug fixes

This release is recommended for all QuickTime 7 users."

If you purchase Linplug Octopus Dual-Matrix synthesizer until the end of November from Linplug webshop, you will receive the Summa Signature soundset (250 patches) for free. it's a 49 euros/ $59 give-away. You can hear the soundset from linpug website here

Octopus is VST and AU, for Mac and windows and costs 129 Euros/$149