New & Noteworthy: Priority One dropped, seeks developer; Usenet co-creator dies; AirPort hardware hack

Priority One discontinued, seeks developer From the Lunar Software Web site: "Due to a serious incompatibility between Priority One and Mac OS 9.1, Priority One will no longer be offered as one of our products. If you know of any Macintosh developer that would like to take over the control of Priority One, please contact us and we can discuss it with them." (Thanks, G. J. Swaelens.)

Usenet co-creator dies Jim Ellis has died. Jim and fellow Duke University graduate Tom Truscott invented concept of Usenet - a precursor to interactive online forums, in 1979. According to The Register: "Jim Ellis was a key pioneer of the electronic age and has been rewarded for his contribution numerous times through awards." Details.

How Bob and His Binoculars Found More Bandwidth and... Robert X. Cringley describes a hardware hack he implemented with AirPort to piggyback off a neighbor's DSL connection, because he was too far away from the central office to qualify. Interesting if only to consider the potential still ahead for AirPort technology.

Update: David Cuddy adds: "The article discusses the potential to set up a long-distance 802.11b (AirPort technology) wireless connection. Turns out some innovative ISPs are already doing just that. Storm Internet Services, a small ISP in Ottawa Canada, is targeting the non-urban market that is not being served by DSL or cable. Storm has deployed 802.11b ‘cell sites’ located atop water towers and other high spots in rural regions around Ottawa."

Site news: no update tomorrow MacFixIt will not be updated on July 4 to celebrate Independence Day in the US. See you on Thursday!