Appletell

Psystar, a small tech company, has recently announced the OpenMac, a $399 computer ready for Leopard.  For $554, you can get a retail copy of Leopard pre-installed. As you probably know, Apple has never licensed another hardware company to make an OS X Compatible computer, so legal action is inevitable.  The knock-off includes a 2.2 GHz processor, 250 gigabytes of hard drive space, 2 gigabytes of RAM and four USB ports.  The OpenMac uses minimal patching and a EFI V8 Emulator to successfully run Leopard. 

With the OpenMac you can run OS X natively as if you had purchased an expensive Apple computer except that, while paying less, you receive more. Apple’s entry-level computer, the Mac Mini, is a small and not very powerful machine. When comparing base configurations, the Mac Mini costs 150% of the price of the OpenMac while offering poorer performance, smaller storage space, and RAM. Not only that but the Mac Mini doesn’t have the option for an nVidia GeForce 8600 video card like the OpenMac does so playing games on it is a lost cause.

The Psystar website, for unknown reasons (possibly legal?), is down, and as soon Apple’s legal department notices that which has spread all over the web, appropriate action will probably be taken on the OpenMac. 

Via [TUAW], [Ars Technica], [Mac Rumors]

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First Fox did it, and now Lionsgate will be joining them in using iTunes Digital Copy on some DVDs. Digital Copy allows DVDs to be transferred and imported to iTunes in a DRM format, essentially giving buyers multiple ways to watch the movie, rather than simply playing the DVD on a standard player and television. Fox took advantage of this a few months ago, and Lionsgate plans to do the same. The first two titles from Lionsgate to receive the Digital Copy treatment are Rambo and The Eye. Alright, so they didn’t pick the best films, but if you were planning on buying these on DVD anyway, things just got better. Lionsgate says that the Digital Copy will only be included on the special edition DVD and the Blu-ray version. Of course, these two are a bit more pricy than the plain DVD, which is a disadvantage if you’re a chronic DVD buyer and are looking to budget. Lionsgate said that more titles will be released after, and it is rumored that these first Digital Copy versions will be hitting stores sometime this summer.

Via [Ars Technica]

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• New MacBooks and MacBook Pros require HDCP for some iTunes videos
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We’ve heard dozens of rumors about iTunes movie rentals - but this rumor seems very realistic - and it is not simply movie rentals as the spectators at Macworld would expect, it’s done in a new kind of way, Apple style. When you insert an iTunes-compatible DVD from Fox to your Mac or PC, iTunes will start up and prompt you to copy the file into your iTunes library. This file will be in H.264 enhanced digital at 1.5mbps. Which is pretty good quality. I’m pretty sure that these files are intended for on-the-go usage. For example, you copy the files into iTunes, transfer to your iPod and watch it on the plane. This is a new system and I think it will work perfectly. The only problem is that these files are likely to be heavily loaded with DRM, and that’s not good news coming from a company that is trying to push the DRM-free format.

A tipster at TUAW, Stewart, said he bought an early copy of a Family Guy DVD due for release on January 15th (Macworld date), and that it was branded iPod-compatible. He posted pictures and screenshots on the TUAW post linked below.

Via [TUAW]

• RadioShack’s Black Friday ad now available
• Netflix to kill HD DVD rentals December 15
• New MacBooks and MacBook Pros require HDCP for some iTunes videos

Along with rumors of Fox partnering with Apple for movie rentals this morning, rumors of DVD copying have risen as well. Apple’s infamous DRM system, FairPlay, will be used to allow the copying of Fox DVDs to iTunes, iPods,  iPhones, and AppleTVs. Although users have been able to copy DVDs and import them for a while, a one click system would be easier and faster. Hopefully, other studios will hop on board if this is a success. All will hopefully be unveiled at the Stevenote.

Via [Valleywag]

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• Netflix to kill HD DVD rentals December 15