I’ve recently commented about previously reviewed Apple MacBook’s tendency to produce a “mooing” sound when its processors are tasked. This annoying sound has finally been eliminated through a recent firmware update by Apple, making this laptop considerably more acceptable. Reports are that operating temperatures are also reduced. The update is available through the built-in software update mechanism in the Mac OS.

Despite my new passion for daily apple eating, the adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” doesn’t seem to hold true, unless it’s referring to me as the doctor. Despite spending most of my day isolated in an office, I still managed to acquire some sort of respiratory infection that has left me with intermittent fever, fatigue, and a persistent, hacking cough that decides to become particularly virulent between the hours of 1 and 4 AM. My wife insists that I am waking up the neighborhood. I’ve tried various over the counter remedies to stop the hacking. They all prove quite successful in making me feel strange, but none seem to do much about the cough. My favorite discovery was that theobromine, a compound in chocolate, may be effective in controlling cough. I tried some strong dark chocolate. While tasty, this did little for my fits of coughing. Hopefully whatever this is will find I’m not an interesting host and move on soon.

Why go through the trouble of spending thousands of dollars on a sleek and slim plasma or LCD HDTV only to have it sit on your outdated AV console. Flat panels allow for more interesting mounting options. While wall mounting is the sleekest option, it may not be practical for everyone. Walls facing the outside world generally can’t be used and corner positional may preclude the use of conventional wall mounts. Some also fear the permanence of traditional wall mounts. Conventional stands don’t highlight the slim design that makes flat panels so attractive to begin with.

The solution is a flat panel stand. The two best options appear to be the Sanus PFPP2B and the BDI Vista 9960. Both mount your flat panel on a compact stand and provide two glass shelves for your components (each supporting about 50 pounds). The BDI may look a little more polished, but is also twice the price. Both are definitely worth looking into if you have or are thinking about buying a flat panel HDTV and are not eager to wall mount.

Everyone knows I am a fan of these apples, but over the past month or so I have developed an insatiable appetite for the more conventional apples. These fruits which are mushy and bland foods only to be eaten because they are “good for you” now have emerged as crunchy and delicious delicacies. I find myself eating several a day, which no doubt puts a dent in my budget. The only wrinkle in my plan to survive off these ruby gems is the dreaded oral allergy syndrome, a cross reactivity between conventional plant allergens and fruits that leaves the eater with a swollen and irritated mouth and lips.

Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference kicks off tomorrow, and that can only mean one thing: several new announcements from Apple. Make sure you cancel any outstanding orders for Apple products, because there will almost certainly be news from the company after the keynote address is completed. Almost certain is a new Intel-based desktop (the Mac Pro), a pre-release version of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard for developers, and likely additional software announcements. Various rumors include the release of new displays, new iPods, and an cell phone. I’d be surprised if the new iPod or cell phone makes the cut, but expect we’ll see some new accessories in addition to the Mac Pro.