Here is some info on the update:

 http://www.apple.com/aperture/newfeatures/index.html

I played around with it awhile back and wasn’t quite sold yet… but it looks like Apple is addressing users requests and suggestions.

http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom/

Here’s the skinny:

Lightroom Beta 4 also features:
-Groundbreaking changes in the way tone curve adjustments are made and displayed, giving you the highest quality results in an interface that’s easier to use than ever before.
-More streamlined and elegant user interface – We’ve made several changes to the look and feel based on your feedback in the earlier beta releases.
-Customizable interface – You can now display only the controls you want to be visible.
-Precision white balance selection tool
-Facility to easily rename and convert files to DNG after they’ve been imported to the Lightroom library
-Increased interaction between Lightroom library organizational structure and the underlying file system
-Filter and search presets to more quickly find the photographs you want
-Better performance and improved interface for the Web module features
-Develop control improvements based on community feedback, including comments from the Pixmantec user community (welcome!)

So I guess it is getting close:

There is a limited amount of time left for you to give us feedback on the Lightroom Beta project, so please continue sharing your opinions with us on the forums.

So up to getting my 17″ Mac Book Pro, I used a PCMCIA CF card reader to download CF cards. Though it was slower than a FW reader, it was so nice to be able to keep the reader in the computer or in the computer bag with no hassles with cables and the such.  The new Mac Book pros use new tech called ExpressCard 34 slots, but until now there haven’t been any readers for it.  Delkin Devices has announced a new reader to fill this need.

Here’s the skinny–

Eric Richter, Delkin’s Marketing Manager explained, “Many digital photographers use laptops in their workflow and the ExpressCard is the new standard for laptops. Our eFilm ExpressCard 34 works in both 34 and 54 mm ExpressCard slots, including the popular Apple MacBook Pro. With a transfer rate of up to 20 MB/s, it is the perfect tool for a photographer’s workflow,” sais Eric Richter, Delkin’s Marketing Manager.

Most serious pro digital photographers primarily use Apple computers in their workflow. The 34 mm slot featured in the new MacBook Pro was thought to be too small to accept the CompactFlash cards predominantly used by professionals and other serious photographers. The Delkin ExpressCard 34 solves this problem with an adapter that fits both the MacBook Pro ExpressCard slot (34 mm) and the larger 54 mm slot used in the latest PC laptops.

The eFilm ExpressCard adapter delivers high speed data transfers up to 20 MB/s. Digital photographers are delighted to learn no drivers are required for either Mac or PC, eliminating a headache whenever operating systems are upgraded.

The ExpressCard 34 is expected to begin shipping to Delkin’s USA and International network of resellers and distributors on October 16, 2006 and will retail for $59.99 USD. It will be available at that time for sale to consumers in the USA and Europe at the company’s website, www.delkin.com. Delkin will be displaying all of their products, including the new ExpressCard 34 next week at Photokina.”