MacShrine is preparing to go up a gear and we are looking for writers to provide an interesting articles on a regular basis. If this sounds like your type of thing, pop along an article (anything Apple-related) and we’ll take a read and let you know if you can become a Shriner. Send your applications along with some info on yourself to: pick_me@macshrine.com. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
While the iron is still hot with the Intel Core Duo, Intel is at it again. According to C-Net, Intel has announced a Quad Core Processor codenamed Clovertown. Slated to hit US stores early next year, Intel is intending for these to be used in new server systems. Designed for a dual processor configuration, computers using this technology will be essentially eight processor systems. Intel claims that these rigs will have increased speed, decreased power consumption, and improved efficiency from dual core systems. Will we be seeing Quad PowerMacs and Xserves then?
According to an Apple press release, the nano will now be available in a 1GB format for $149, and pricing for the iPod shuffle drops to $69 (512MB) & $99 (1GB). The Apple store has been updated to reflect the new models & pricing. The iPod shuffle 512MB now sells for $69, and the 1GB shuffle remains at $99. So erm, is this a late Christmas present or are they preparing something uberly new? Can we expect the “real” iPod video soon? Whilst we’re talking about the iPod nanos, do you think Apple should just cut the shuffle line? Share your thoughts, we love comments!
Just a short notice… We’ll be taking a quick 3-day “vacation” weekend today. Full publishing will resume on Monday, we promise.
As I’ve nothing to do until tonight, I modded up the sidebar. I added handy links to all Apple hardware and software sites, as well as listing all the Intel processors coming out in 2006 and 2007 (we might as well start learning all the names). Also there is a new Subscribe box that lets you subscribe to MacShrines news feed quick and easily. So enjoy and happy new year!
Before I doddle off, I want to wish all our readers a happy and prosperous new year. Also, best of luck to Apple on their Intel move!
Most of you have probably figured that when we meant “November”, we really meant “when it’s ready”. The road has been uberly long, we started development of MacShrine 5.0 in March 2005, re-started in May, re-started in July, stopped in September, before re-starting in November and stopping again in early December. We’ve been quite confused on which direction to take the site, hence all the re-startations (that even a word?). But anyway, that was the past and we’ve got to look onto the future, especially to the new year 2006!
So after a long, hard think, we came to the conclusion that we should stick with the same embodiment that empowered us when we first started the site. Today marks the beginning of MacShrine 5.0. We’re now using WordPress 2.0 instead of our in-house solution iGelato. This isn’t because iGelato sucked, far from it, I thought it rocked and so did the 500,000 of you that have visited us since we started, but because WordPress have their own development direction, thus we then have a direction and a timeline to plan things by. Currently you see a bog-standard WordPress installation. I can assure all our readers, that come February 2006, we’ll have the most freakin’ amazing thing you’ll ever have seen. Not only that, but the site will return to it’s roots and become a lot more personal. We’re not some huge media company, just a group of friends who set out to become a worthy source of Mac-related news, rumors and everything else! With 10 world-exclusives, 6 server crashes, half a million unique visitors and over 13 million page views we feel we’ve accomplished that.
To end this half-rant, half-announcement I once again would like to thank everyone of you who have made us what we are. Here’s to 2006, what a year it’ll turn out to be! 
On behalf of the MacShrine team I would like to wish all our readers are happy Christmas! We’ll be taking a short break this weekend from posting news, but we’ll resume again on Monday. Many thanks to everyone who has made it possible for us to see MacShrine through to its 2nd Christmas. So once again, have a super holiday weekend!
