Eyes on Iomega -- Iomega Corporation has released version 5.5.1 of its Iomega software, a 2.45 MB download which includes a disk driver system extension for Zip and Jaz drives, Iomega Guest (which loads the disk driver into RAM so the device can be used without installing the extension), plus associated utilities, help files, and documentation. The software supports the ZipPlus and 2 GB Jaz drives, enables Zip and Jaz disks to be initialized as Extended Format (HFS Plus) volumes under Mac OS 8.1, and adds diagnostic options to the Iomega Tools utility. Iomega has also posted a brief tech info page about the "Zip Drive Click of Death," which gets its name from repeated clicking noises made by some damaged drives. The problem can damage both media and drives, and Iomega has reportedly begun active investigation of the issue.

<http://www.iomega.com/support/software/mac.html>
<http://www.iomega.com/support/techs/zip/ 2135.html>
<http://news.com/News/Item/0,4,19062,00.html>

In other news, a settlement has been reached in a class-action lawsuit over the quality of Iomega's tech support and for charging customers excessively for long phone wait times; the settlement would require Iomega to improve its technical support and support options significantly. Iomega is still preparing to defend against a different class-action lawsuit charging that company executives violated federal securities laws. [JLC]

<http://news.com/News/Item/0,4,19215,00.html>
<http://www.iomega.com/company/news/class13.html>