Among the “pretty sweet new features“ that distinguish Xsan 2, Chris Foresman (arstechnica.com) points to the new MultiSAN feature, which “gives simultaneous access to multiple volumes that are hosted by separate controllers.” Xsan 2 “also allows file copies from one SAN volume to another directly over FibreChannel for a significant speed boost.” In addition, Foresman points to the redesigned admin tools that simplify setup and to Xsan 2’s tighter integration with Open Directory, Mac OS X Leopard, and Server Assistant on Leopard server.

It’s the world’s most wearable music player, and the 1GB iPod shuffle — just $49 — is now the most affordable iPod ever. It also has a new 2GB sibling that costs just $69 and allows customers to wear even more music on their sleeves. Or belts. Or lapels. While the 1GB iPod shuffle is available immediately, the 2GB will be available later this month. Both models come in five color — silver, blue, green, purple and a (PRODUCT) RED special edition) — weigh just half an ounce, and are just half a cubic inch in volume.

Apple today introduced Xsan 2, the first major upgrade to its easy-to-use, high-performance, enterprise-class Storage Area Network (SAN) file system for Mac OS X. Xsan 2 combines enhanced performance with Apple’s legendary ease of use, allowing even first-time users to set up and quickly deploy a SAN. It introduces MultiSAN, which allows users on a single workstation to access multiple SANs at the same time. Fully integrated with Mac OS X Leopard and Mac OS X Server Leopard, Xsan is also now qualified to work with third-party RAID storage.

“As I look at a newly arrived MacBook Air laptop,” writes Dean Takahashi (mercurynews.com), “it occurs to me there has never been a better time to switch to a Mac.” And he points to the new MacBook Air as “a great example of the faster innovation” that Apple offers customers. “The design is attractive and nobody can boast having a thinner notebook computer. It has an innovation dubbed Remote Disc. You install a disk on a desktop’s DVD drive. Then you can use your MacBook Air’s Remote Disc function to take over the DVD drive and install software into the MacBook Air. It’s an innovation that may signal the beginning of the end of disk media.”

“As I look at a newly arrived MacBook Air laptop,” writes Dean Takahashi (mercurynews.com), “it occurs to me there has never been a better time to switch to a Mac.” And he points to the new MacBook Air as “a great example of the faster innovation” that Apple offers customers. “The design is attractive and nobody can boast having a thinner notebook computer. It has an innovation dubbed Remote Disc. You install a disk on a desktop’s DVD drive. Then you can use your MacBook Air’s Remote Disc function to take over the DVD drive and install software into the MacBook Air. It’s an innovation that may signal the beginning of the end of disk media.”

“Bento,” reports Dan Moren (macworld.com), “FileMaker’s new consumer-level database, aims to do for the database what Numbers and Pages did for the spreadsheet and the page layout program, respectively: make them easy and accessible for the rest of us.” The new consumer-level database “provides an approachable interface that appeals to the general consumer and a feature set that’s suitable for a single user to manage data. Bento easily handles data that’s too cumbersome for a spreadsheet, yet doesn’t require the complexities of a professional-level database.”

“For a lot of people,” says Ken Mingis (computerworld.com), “smaller and lighter is better when it comes to their laptops.” He considers MacBook Air “one of the coolest-looking laptops to appear in years — both in terms of size and hipness.” It has “a gorgeous display that looks sharper and brighter on the Air than it does on the regular MacBook.” And, he says, “waking it up from sleep mode took about 2 seconds, and the LED backlighting means the screen hit full brightness as soon as it was awake.” As for performance: “The Air feels just about as snappy as my MacBook Pro in day-to-day use doing the kinds of things most users will be doing: surfing the Web, firing off e-mails, text editing and light graphics work.”

For the first time, music fans can enjoy all of the contestant performances from Season Seven of American Idol, television’s most popular show, exclusively on iTunes. This week, performances of the “American Idol” Top 24 semifinalists will be the first to appear on iTunes. You also can purchase music performances for 99 cents per song. Starting March 11, you’ll also be able to purchase the full video of Top 12 finalist performances for $1.99. And, beginning today, you can pre-order performances of your favorite contestants from the iTunes Store, which will automatically download the day after the show airs. The exclusive availability comes to you thanks to a partnership of Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Interactive Media, 19 Entertainment, FremantleMedia and Apple.