New and Noteworthy: Adobe program rivals Apple's Aperture; CNN: Rumors fly on upcoming Apple gadgets; more

Adobe program rivals Apple's Aperture ZDNet reports on Adobe's new Lightroom application -- software that is seen as a rival to a professional photo program that Apple Computer launched last year. "Adobe on Monday offered up a public beta of Adobe Lightroom, a program to help avid shutterbugs manage the work of processing, selecting and editing their RAW-format images. Apple introduced a similar concept with its $499 Aperture software that shipped late last year. [...] The company plans to show off the software at its booth at Macworld Expo, which gets into high gear on Tuesday. The beta is also available free from Adobe's Web site." More.

CNN: Rumors fly on upcoming Apple gadgets CNN offers its rumor roundup for Macworld Expo SF 2006, quoting several analysts "Citigroup's Gardner believes the Intel Mac launch will coincide with the introduction of Intel's (Research) new dual core processors, called 'Core Duo,' which were unveiled last week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. He thinks the PowerBook laptop line will be the first line to get new chips, but he doesn't expect Apple to roll out Intel-based iBook laptops until May or June, the peak selling season for the educational market, Gardner wrote." More.

Reuters: Apple may offer new laptops at Macworld, analysts say Reuters throws its hat into the Macworld speculation ring, also quoting a number of analysts. "[...] many analysts have said for months that they expect an earlier introduction of some Macintosh models, particularly ones using the older G4 processor. 'We think the iBook, PowerBook, Mac Mini and potentially Xserve are areas that are going to move to Intel first,' said Shaw Wu, an analyst at American Technology Research Inc." More.

XFN: MacWorld Set to Answer CES The Xinhua Financial News is also quoting its stock of analysts, noting the possibility of a new iPod Shuffle replacement at Macworld Expo. "I think there's a high likelihood of a new Shuffle," said Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray. "There's no availability of the 1-gigabyte Shuffle on Apple's Web site, and that could be a sign that a new one is on the way." Apple may come out with a new Shuffle that includes a small screen that shows what song the device is playing, he suggested. More.

No live Keynote webcast, again TUAW reports that, once again, there will be no live stream for this year's keynote address from Steve Jobs at Macworld SF 2006. "For the past couple of years at least, Apple has not provided a live web broadcast of the keynote, opting instead to post the video to its website after the fact. It looks like that's the plan for this Tuesday as well, which is disappointing. I'll watch the video, of course, but watching it happen live is so much more pleasant than impatiently waiting for a bare-bones and overburdened website to refresh its content." More.

Chrysler announces iPod integration The Chrysler Group today announced that it will be the first American automaker to provide full iPod integration as an option in most of its 2006 models, with over three million 2006 Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge models offering seamless iPod integration beginning this spring. "Drivers will be able to listen to their iPod through the car's audio system, select their music by artist, album or playlist with radio or steering wheel controls and view selections on the radio?s display." More.

Previously on MacFixIt

• FireWire-based RAID arrays spontaneously unmounting
• Bluetooth Firmware Updater 1.2 (#4): Failing PRAM zap, try resetting PMU; Which models need the update?; more
• AirPort Express Firmware 6.3 (#2): Buzzing from speakers; Downgrading firmware (reverting)
• Reliability of refurbished Macs
• More on iPod mounting issues: Problems with multiple user accounts

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