News Archive for 00/12/15

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MySQL and PHP4 packages available

12/15, 11:59pm

MySQL and PHP4 packages available

Lightyear Design has posted pre-built packages for installing MySQL and PHP4 for use with Apache and Mac OS X. And they've done a great job with their instructions too. [link updated - 12/20/00 ]

3dfx recommends sale of assets

12/15, 6:18pm

3dfx recommends sale of assets

Graphics chip manufacturer 3dfx Interactive announced today that it will substantially reduce all of its workforce as part of an initiative to significantly reduce expenses and is recommending to its shareholders that they approve an agreement to sell certain assets and products of the company for $112 million to Nvidia, the company's long-time competitor and market leader in PC graphics and that the company be dissolved following the sale. A letter from 3dfx's CTO Scott Sellers, a revolutionary in 3D graphics engineering, addresses the company's customers for future support of the company's products.

Printools XT 2.1: QuarkXpress plug-in

12/15, 6:17pm

Printools XT 2.1: QuarkXpress plug-in

Printools XT 2.1 is a new version of the $60 QuarkXpress plug-in from Badia Software which now features a "toolbar next to the live preview window that lets you control common print settings with a click of the mouse". The upgrade also offers other minor feature additions and bug fixes. A demo of Printools XT 2.1 is now available.

CD/DVD SpeedTools 5.6 adds VPC 4.0 support

12/15, 6:15pm

CD/DVD SpeedTools 5.6 adds VPC 4.0 support

Intech's CD/DVD SpeedTools 5.6 adds support for Virtual PC 4.0 and Diablo II to the system-level driver software for accelerating data access, monitoring CD/DVD cache performance and even playing music from standard audio CDs.

Switcheroo version 1.1.1 available for OS X

12/15, 4:07pm

Switcheroo version 1.1.1 available for OS X

Switcheroo v1.1.1 is a feature update to David Stys' Finder toolbar customizing utility for Mac OS X. Additional sets of toolbar icons can be downloaded from Xicons.com's toolbar page.

Concept Draw for OS X announced

12/15, 2:38pm

Concept Draw for OS X announced

Ukraine-based Computer Systems Odessa plans to demonstrate a Mac OS X version of ConceptDraw at Macworld Expo San Francisco next month. ConceptDraw is a cross-platform application for creating business and technical drawings including flowcharts, UML diagrams, web site plans, network diagrams, floorplans, timelines and organizational charts. The company currently has a carbonized beta version of ConceptDraw 1.6 available for free download for registered owners of ConceptDraw 1.58 or earlier.

Apple CPU Plugins 2.7 available

12/15, 1:46pm

Apple CPU Plugins 2.7 available

Mark Tuleweit e-mailed us that the software update panel says the Apple CPU Plugins version 2.7 are now available. This update is only available for PowerMac G4 systems. No details other than that this update will improve reliabilty with PowerMac G4 systems.

Petition to open source Mac OS X

12/15, 12:34pm

Petition to open source Mac OS X

Aaron Vegh, the former publisher of Macinsite magazine, and Drew Maynard, production manager at Canadian Homes & Cottages Magazine, have set up a petition for all Mac advocates to sign and to be forwarded to Apple in support of open-sourcing OS X.

Get your Wallstreet fixed free!

12/15, 11:50am

Get your Wallstreet fixed free!

A group at Berkeley has begun the PowerBook G3 Series corrective action campaign, which demands free repairs of all PowerBook G3s with defective hinges and reimbursement for PowerBook G3 owners who have paid already, "because this defect is not our fault, so why should Apple force us to pay $300+ for repairs?" [Resexcellence]

Painting 2 released

12/15, 11:48am

Painting 2 released

Sarwat Khan has posted Painting 2, a small $20 shareware graphics program. Features include standard paint tools, special effects, support for multiple file formats, customized color sets and graphics tablet support. The new version brings new color management facilities, including a colour mixer and a colour usage history.

The Wrap on Cubes

12/15, 11:45am

The Wrap on Cubes

Patrick O'Kelly has posted instructions on how to create Cube Wrappers, pieces of paper inserted in the space between the clear outer plastic housing and the metal inner housing of the G4 Cube. "Size your creation in your favorite graphics editor to at least 7.25 inches in height and anywhere from 7 inches to 21 inches in width."

Apple SEC Form 10-K available online

12/15, 10:56am

Apple SEC Form 10-K available online

Apple's eight-page Form 10-K details Apple's fiscal operations for 1998, 1999 and 2000. The report notes that Apple's net income for 2000 was 30 percent higher than 1999 primarily due to higher iMac sales (approximately 2.2 million units in 2000 or 40 percent more than 1999). Approximately 545,000 iBooks were sold in 2000, and Apple experienced modest gains on the sales of its professional line (PowerMacs and PowerBooks). R&D expenditures increased 21 percent or $66 million to $380 million in 2000. Advertising expenses were also up to $281 million from $208 million in 1999.

Games: Rogues Spear Demo, Sin Demo party

12/15, 10:11am

Games: Rogues Spear Demo, Sin Demo party

games.macnn.com has information on today's release of the Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear Demo for the Mac in addition to a launch party scheduled for tomorrow which will include the release of the SiN Demo for the Mac.

Palm lays out 6-part vision

12/15, 10:03am

Palm lays out 6-part vision

At PalmSource 2000, Palm CEO Carl Yankowski outlined his six-part vision for handheld computing and made several announcements to the more than 3,000 attendees:

A range of new wireless modems and integrated wireless handhelds are expected in 2001, which will give users access most of the world's major wireless networks. Samsung, a new licensee of the Palm OS platform, is developing a new Palm OS-based smartphone for release in the first half of 2001 with functions for a datebook, addresses, to-do lists and memos. Net PIM, including the creation of MyPalm portal. The public beta is due by the end of the year. Communication Phase 1, which will extend existing e-mail solutions to include message notification, instant messaging and seamless access to Exchange e-mail. Communication Phase 2, in which Palm is adding voice, first via telephony, then incorporating voice as data into the Palm OS.

Yesterday at MacNN

12/15, 10:00am

Yesterday at MacNN

Yesterday at MacNN, we had news items about Apple posting Disk First Aid 8.6, our review of Star Trek: Voyager -- Elite Force, the release of Kaleidoscope 2.3 and market news about Microsoft and Adobe.

Today at DealNN 12/15/00

12/15, 10:00am

Today at DealNN 12/15/00

Bargains today at DealNN include refurbished iMac 333 with keyboard, mouse and software for $600; free Logitech game pad; Virtual Game Station for $8 after rebate; and Palm IIIc (color) with free $50 Amazon gift certificate for $280.

Shockwave.com, AtomFilms merge

12/15, 9:15am

Shockwave.com, AtomFilms merge

Macromedia's entertainment business, shockwave.com, and AtomFilms have signed a definitive merger agreement. Shockwave.com will acquire AtomFilms in a stock-for-stock deal.

Tribeworks' iShell Uuser Conference

12/15, 9:14am

Tribeworks' iShell Uuser Conference

Tribeworks will host its annual iShell User Conference Jan. 12 and 13 in San Francisco. iShell 2 is the company's multimedia application software that is QuickTime native. The conference will include sessions on the technology and presentations from speakers, such as Peter Hoddie, CEO of Generic Media and former QuickTime engineer at Apple Computer, and Marcel Uetzels of iDots, a marquee developer of iShell modules. The conference costs $700.

Jazz Connections released

12/15, 9:06am

Jazz Connections released

McDavis Associates has released Jazz Connections, a $25 multimedia Macintosh/Windows hybrid CD-ROM profiling 50 great Jazz artists and their relationships. The company is offering free shipping through December.

IRCmagic 1.0.6 posted

12/15, 9:04am

IRCmagic 1.0.6 posted

Microcosm Software has posted IRCmagic 1.0.6, an AppleScript enhancement for the Macintosh IRC chat client, Ircle. This release relocates various utility handlers into a centralized place and fixes numerous bugs.

Setting Sun updated to 1.5

12/15, 9:03am

Setting Sun updated to 1.5

Setting Sun 1.5 is a $20 high-end screen saver featuring many 3D modules. This update adds four new modules: clock, iconifier, flash and tunnel; provides full multiple monitor support and includes an option to fade on startup.

Morphon XML, CSS Editors RC-2 now available

12/15, 8:57am

Morphon XML, CSS Editors RC-2 now available

Morphon Technologies has recently released Morphon XML and CSS Editors 1.0 RC-2. The XML Editor is a validating WSYSIWYG editor that uses Document Type Definition and Cascading SytleSheets. The XML Editor is bundled with the CSS Editor for customizing CSS. This free release candidate includes an installer, revamps the menu and fixes some errors in section handling. The final version, expected soon, will be $150 for a single-user license.

Festivus sale at Nisus

12/15, 8:56am

Festivus sale at Nisus

Nisus Software is offering 15 percent off its regular price on all its products, including Nisus Writer 6.0.1, normally $100, and Nisus Email 1.0.9, normally $20, for Festivus (for the rest of us). Discounts apply until Dec. 31.

Morning tech news for 12/15/00

12/15, 6:01am

Morning tech news for 12/15/00

Morning tech news: Intel plans to introduce a variety of new chips, including a 1.3 GHz Pentium 4, next year; the motion picture industry's effort to ban computer code that subverts its DVD encryption scheme has suffered a setback in California; and Toshiba said its computer sales in the U.S. are slowing at the same rate as its rivals.