Apple shuts down iCommune; Another switcher; APC recalls power back unit; Spam getting worse

Apple shuts down iCommune Apple has forced the developer of plug-in that turned iTunes into peer-to-peer music-sharing software, CNET reports. The plug-in, called iCommune, allowed iTunes users to browse the music libraries of other Macintoshes over a network and stream or download music from them. "On Wednesday, Apple notified developer James Speth that he was violating the terms of his software agreement and ordered him to stop distributing the plug-in and to return Apple's development tools. Speth removed the iCommune download from his Web site." More.

Got another one Apple has snagged one more user from Microsoft's clutches. This time it's Mike Wendland, a columnist for the Free Press. He writes "I'm a switcher. My main personal computer system is now an Apple Macintosh. It began innocently enough. Over a period of several months after Apple's new OS X Jaguar operating system was released last year, I tested a variety of iBooks, iMacs and G4s." More.

APC recalls power back units In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), American Power Conversion Corporation (APC), of West Kingston, R.I., is voluntarily recalling about 900,000 back-up power supply devices. These devices are primarily used to protect computers in case of a power failure. The power supply device can fail, causing the unit to overheat, which may pose a fire hazard to consumers. According to a statement: "APC has received six reports of units overheating resulting in the melting of the unit's outer casing and three reports of minor property damage." More.

Spam getting worse According to an E-Commerce Times report, the number of spam messages sent increased nearly 300 percent from 2001 to 2002 -- from 14,078,511 to 55,683,103. "If you think you're getting more spam than ever, you're right. Spam -- junk e-mail -- has dramatically increased in the past year, studies have shown. And next year will be even worse, one new report says. It predicts that by July, the volume of spam sent to business e-mail addresses will exceed the amount of regular e-mail." More.

Choosing a printer for digital photos A Wall Street Journal article looks at a range of digital photo printers. "I'm an average photographer at best, so my needs were simple: Take photos from my Canon PowerShot G2 and make 4x6 prints that would pass for traditional shots, and maybe a few arty 8x10s. And I didn't want to break the bank or retrain myself as a graphic artist. I tested a range of photo printers: the Hewlett-Packard PhotoSmart 7550 ($299.99), the Canon S9000 ($499.99) and the pricier Epson Stylus 2200 ($699)." More.

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