handy place

UPDATED– .Mac services updated–now 1GB of storage, Groups and Backup 3

When .Mac went down for “maintenance” this evening it seemed all too suspicious …a Mac Expo in Paris, a Tuesday morning fast approaching (the time Apple tends to make announcements) and then .Mac went dark…something was up.

Well, .Mac has come out from the darkness with 1GB of storage (2GB in a Family Pack). All that space would make a handy place to back up your files and Apple has also posted an updated to its Backup utility. Its got one-step iLife backups, Spotlight integration, schedules and ways to share files automatically between all your Macs.

There are also .Mac Groups that allow you to share photos, make announcements, share calendars, search member lists, and post messages.

All the new stuff is instantly available to current .Mac subscribers and new subscriptions are going for USD$99.95/year or USD$179.95/year for a Family Pack.

Note:45058154 6a35f0a3e0 UPDATED   .Mac services updated  now 1GB of storage, Groups and Backup 3

Just a note for all you people who subscribed to the 1GB .Mac before today: your account has been upgraded to one with 2GB of storage.

Tom Bihn’s The Buzz sling-bag

slingcrimson Tom Bihns The Buzz sling bagThe
Buzz sling-bag from Tom Bihn
is made of an abrasion and tear resistant Cordura
exterior with “splash-proof” zippers.

It includes a rather large cell
phone pocket fits medium to large-sized cell phones and swallows small phones
whole. This pocket would also make a handy place for sunglasses or could also be stretched to hold an iPod.

If you keep your iPod in a case or even an FM transmitter, the Buzz’s water
bottle pocket will be a perfect fit. Surprisingly enough, the Buzz’s water battle
pocket is also well suited to holding a bottle of water in the event of iPod
absence.

Most important of all, the Buzz has a
padded computer pocket fits laptops up to 11.5″ x 9.5″ x 1.5″–a
blessing for 12″ iBook and PowerBook users and a disappointment to everyone
else.

Test driving the Buzz gave me an excuse to take my old Dual USB iBook out of
mothballs and lighten my load from the gadget-laden Tom
Bihn ID Bag
in which I usually carry my 15″ PowerBook. The Buzz is
an extremely comfy bag to tote around. It may not carry as much laptop or as
many extras as the ID bag, but then it caters more to the light traveler; offering
easy access to your pens, wallet, PDA, business cards and keys. It’s a laptop
bag–clean and simple. And it does its job well. The computer pocket holds my
iBook securely while padding it and protecting it from the other nasties I might
throw in the bag after it.

My only beef with the Buzz is that there is no way to cram my 15″ PowerBook into it. If you’re in the market for a sling-bag for your 12″ ‘Book, you’ll find
a lot to like about the Buzz from Tom Bihn.