Today's Top Stories:

  Apple Set to Release Its Most Powerful Cat Ever
First there was Jaguar, followed by Panther and Tiger. Big cats all. But on October 26th, Apple will release its biggest, fastest big cat ever. Mac OS X 10.5 carries the code name "Leopard," and is said to include over 300 brand-new features that include a bold new look for the desktop that includes a semitransparent menu bar and a reflective 3-D Dock; a faster, friendlier Finder to help you browse your files like you browse for your music; Quick Look, which allows users to view, play, and read files without having to open them; and Spaces, a feature that lets you drag windows to different workspaces and thus unclutter your Mac. But the most important feature has to be Time Machine, which allows users to go back in time to restore any file on their Macs thanks to this breakthrough automatic backup system. Apple's CEO, Steve Jobs says, "It's the best upgrade we've ever released, and everybody gets the 'ultimate' version!"

  CME Controllers Support Pro Tools and Sonar
CME has announced that it's popular VX and UF Series of master keyboard controllers will now offer full integration of all functions with Digidesign's Pro Tools and Cakewalk's Sonar software, in addition to other popular DAW platforms such as Steinberg Cubase and Nuendo, Ableton Live, and Propellerhead Reason. According to CME, the VX Series Controllers are the very first to offer fully motorized faders and a number of other useful, user-friendly controls. The motorized faders now enable users of Pro Tools and SONAR to instantly recall software and hardware settings that can be stored along with a project. The new CME UF Series Controllers offer non-motorized faders and a host of other control features, along with built-in wireless USB for controlling DAW rigs in either the studio or up on the stage.

  Updates and Upgrades ...and now Crossgrades, too!
Native Instruments has just released the most powerful version of their next generation, state-of-the-art sampler, KONTAKT 3. If you own any version of KOMPAKT, INTAKT, AUDIO KONTROL 1, or literally any of the 100 sample libraries from 20 third-party sample library manufacturers that run on the KONTAKT Player Engine, you can get KONTAKT 3 at a discount of $200! No, that's not a misprint (our editors and proofreaders are ever-vigilant), you really can get the newest, coolest version of KONTAKT for just $199.97! We don't have room to list every third-party library that qualifies, but a simple toll-free call to your friendly, incredibly knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineer will confirm whether or not you qualify (and with a list this long, you'll almost certainly qualify). Call now for complete information, because you cannot pass up this deal! Cakewalk has just posted the very first update to SONAR 7. There are many notable fixes relating to performance and stability issues with version 7.0.1, as well as quite a few enhancements, such as a new step sequencer and both new and updated plug-ins and components. Users must have SONAR 7.0 installed and registered and have their serial number available in order to download the update and run the installer.

  Guitar of the Day
Okay Fender, we give up! You've convinced us once and for all that the guitars being built by the company today are some of the very best the company has ever made! Because seriously, if you've got a jones for Strats, this is one of the most unique incarnations we've ever encountered, period. This Fender Custom Shop 20th Anniversary Masterbuilt 2007 Stratocaster (err, Fender may be going for the record here for the longest model name) makes us want to take it home and plug it into our favorite amp and just play for days. Part of the allure is the solid ash body stained in what Fender calls Violin Burst, which truly looks like a 20-year-old sunburst that has mellowed over many years of gigging in smoke-filled clubs to this gorgeous color. To complete the effect, the guys at the Custom Shop gave it a Closet Classic finish, which sure adds to the illusion of this being a two-decade old Strat! Even the decal on the headstock has darkened like the real thing. Keep in mind that if Violin Burst isn't your thing, we also have these in stock in two-color and three-color sunburst, Vintage White (with that cool mint pickguard), Black, Candy Tangerine, Fiesta Red, Lake Placid Blue, Sonic Blue, Green Metallic, and our second favorite, Nocaster Blonde with black pickguard. It's hard to believe Fender's Custom Shop has been turning out instruments for 20 years, but it has! And these guitars are truly a fitting tribute to the men and women who put their heart and soul into each instrument they build. As befits a guitar of this pedigree, it has the thin-skin nitrocellulose lacquer clearcoat, an engraved anniversary neckplate, a Custom Classic bridge, 1966 "big peg" headstock (which we happen to dig), dark Indian rosewood fingerboard over a quartersawn maple '65 C-shape neck, a 5-way pickup switch, tinted lacquer neck finish, and naturally, a special plush-lined limited edition hardshell case. Of course, it wouldn't be a Strat without a Custom Classic tremolo bridge with a pop-in arm and three single coil pickups: a Texas Special in the bridge position, a Custom Shop '69 reverse wound/reverse polarity middle pickup and in the critical neck position, a Custom Shop '69 pickup. Please note that these guitars are being built only during 2007, so don't dawdle and find the one you want has shipped to another Strat lover!