New & Noteworthy: Mac religion; eBay buys PayPal;

Hacker site bows; Apple store in SoHo

Mac religion A Wired News article profiles Psychologist David Levine, who is a dedicated collector of Apple-branded goods and buys extra computers just to support Apple. The piece also looks at other enthusiasts for whom Mac collecting is akin to a religion. More.

eBay buys PayPal Auction giant eBay will acquire online transaction facilitator PayPal in a stock-for-stock exchange using a fixed ratio of 0.39 eBay shares for each PayPal share. Based on eBay's stock price on July 5, 2002, the acquisition is valued at $1.5 billion. PayPal will continue to operate as an independent brand. More.

Hacker site bows An site for hackers that published a program to decode DVDs said yesterday that it would not ask the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that banned publication. The Walt Disney Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Viacom's Paramount Pictures and five other movie studios sued the site's operator, Eric Corley, and his Web site, 2600: The Hacker Quarterly. More.

Apple Store in SoHo Apple has posted directions and details regarding its latest retail establishment in New York's SoHo district. The store's theater will feature presentations from MTV producers, and editors of the New Yorker.