MailBITS/17-Aug-98

LetterRip Pro 3.0.2 Released -- Fog City Software has released a free update to LetterRip Pro, their simple yet high-performance mailing list management software. Version 3.0.2 fixes a few bugs and makes several changes, including eliminating more auto-responses via the Mailer Daemon Strings file, identifying outgoing files in the log, and fixing a problem with the fuzzy domain logic that caused LetterRip to think that two similar addresses were identical. Fog City recommends that all LetterRip Pro users upgrade to the new version, which is either a 3.1 MB download for the full installer or a 381K download for an updater (only the LetterRip Pro Server has changed). [ACE]

<http://www.fogcity.com/letterrip.html>

Farallon is Back! Once one of the major networking companies in the Macintosh world, Farallon last year changed its name to Netopia, Inc. and began to focus more on the Internet. Now the Farallon division is spinning out of Netopia as an independent company that will focus on Ethernet cards, switches, hubs, and related products, including the EtherMac iPrint Adapter LT for connecting the new iMac to LocalTalk printers and Macs. Netopia will continue to focus on Internet products, including Netopia Internet Routers, Netopia Virtual Office, and Timbuktu Pro. We're pleased to welcome Farallon back, especially since it's a great sign for the continued recovery of the Macintosh market from last year's doldrums. [ACE]

<http://www.netopia.com/>
<http://www.farallon.com/news/98_08_05.html>
<http://www.farallon.com/news/98_07_28.html>

Another Registry for Stolen Computers -- Rob Jorgensen wrote to inform us of another database where you can register stolen machines or check serial numbers on used machines you're considering buying. The American Computer Exchange Database of Stolen Computers appears to work similarly to O'Grady's Stolen PowerBook Registry mentioned in "Ripped Off!" in TidBITS-442. [ACE]

<http://www.amcoex.com/AmCoEx/Stolen/>
<http://celebs.ogrady.com/larceny/>
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=05033>

New SyQuest Utilities and Layoffs -- SyQuest Technology has released, without fanfare, version 4.0.1 of SyQuest Utilities. (Is there a good reason why SyQuest can't be bothered to notify registered customers of these things?) Those who were previously mired in La Cie's Silverlining Lite can now take advantage of SyQuest's own driver and control panel interface, which is cleaner, easier, and better documented, plus has additional options and features.

<ftp://ftp.syquest.com/pub/drivers/misc/mac/SyQuest%20Utilities.hqx>

Here's an upgrade procedure that worked reliably for my SyJet. With extensions off, install the control panel, which automatically disables Silverlining Lite. Restart, and for each SyJet cartridge, do the following: Back up the data, and initialize the cartridge, which will instantly erase it and install the new driver. (If you cannot back up, press Option and use Update instead.) For each tab of the control panel, click Use Defaults (unless you have a clear reason for other options), and choose Save Settings. Now verify the cartridge - medium level should do. This takes about an hour, and can mend most bad blocks - my cartridges had several; it should not harm the data. Finally, if you backed up the data, restore it.

Unfortunately, SyQuest recently announced layoffs off 950 employees worldwide and a halt to manufacturing in its Fremont, California facilities, along with other cost-cutting moves, due to a massive restructuring aimed at improving the company's health. [MAN]

<http://www.syquest.com/press/1998/pr080698.html>