According to The Register, Intel have confirmed plans to release a 64bit version of their low-end x86 CPU.

This may come as a blow to AMD, as their low-end x86 CPU, the Sempron, is crippled to be a 32bit-only slice of silicon. Whether or not this will make a real difference remains to be seen - the Sempron 3100+ has shown itself to be a right little screamer of a chip for being a budget part, and the addition of 64bit extensions does not seem to have had a huge impact on the performance of the P4.
Even still, perhaps AMD will take a look at their Sempron line and have a think.

A little less than a week after Apple introduced its new line of iPods, Creative Labs has responded with a Zen Micro update of its own, cutting prices and offering more options across the line. The Zen Micro is now available in three sizes; 4GB for $179.99 after $20 mail-in rebate, 5GB for $229.99 and 6GB for $249.99. Previously, Creative only offered a 5GB model which was priced at $249.99, so this update represents a modest price reduction for that model.

More interestingly, this puts the 4GB Zen Micro within striking range of the 1GB iPod Shuffle. Creative could be banking on the fact that for $30 more than a Shuffle, consumers will get 3GB more capacity and a large, backlit display which the Shuffle lacks. Apple’s iPod Shuffle 1GB model retails for $149.99.

In the continuing saga of the iPod Firewire cable scandal (OK, “scandal” is a bit of a misnomer, but it makes great yellow journalism! ), the online petition urging Apple to continue inclusion of a Firewire cable with iPods has reached 3,000 signatures.

The petition reads as follows:

We, as dedicated users and supporter of your hardware and software are completely dismayed at your recent decision to discontinue standard FireWire support for the iPod music player line. As the innovator of FireWire, it seems wholly irrational to remove it from the people who provide the support, promotion and word of mouth “advertising” that provides your company with the millions of “switchers” you want each year, free of charge.

Computers your company manufactured less than a year ago had no USB 2.0 support. We know, go buy the $20.00 adapter cable. It is very unfortunate that you have left your faithful out in the dark on this one and we ask that you put FireWire cables back in iPod packaging.

Apple takes a step away from FireWire

With the latest crop of iPods, Apple is no longer including a FireWire cable in the box. The music players will still work with FireWire, if a cord is purchased separately, but only a USB 2.0 cable comes with the device. The move is part of a gradual shift on Apple’s part to standardize the iPod on USB, which is far more common in the Windows world.
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Nonetheless, some Mac owners were rankled by the move, saying that as recently as a year or two ago many Macs didn’t include a USB 2.0 port. As of Wednesday night, more than 1,300 people had signed an online petition calling on Apple to again include a FireWire cable with iPods.

Please. Would you like some cheese with your whine?

It is very hard for me to sympathize with the signatories to that petition for several reasons:

The first reason is the cost factor. The FireWire cable is relatively cheap at a mere $20, especially considering the affected consumer has just spent at least $200 on a portable music player.

The second reason is more complex. The Mac faithful is just that: faithful. Mac fans are, in general, a lot more forgiving with Apple than PC fans are with, say, Microsoft. When a company enjoys the kind of rabid following Apple does, you bet they are going to take advantage of that. Apple knows they can make this move, because they know there’s going to be…
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Today, I filled every last nook and cranny of my beloved 15GB 3rd generation iPod.

On the plus side, my old G4 is selling well on ebay, and I may be able to afford a 30GB iPod Photo.