News Archive for 01/01/10

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Custer's Corner MWSF Journal Debuts

01/10, 9:05pm

Custer's Corner MWSF Journal Debuts

Custer's Corner has been updated with a journal detailing the daily adventures of Macworld Expo San Francisco 2001. The journal will be updated throughout the week.

Apple posts several system software updates

01/10, 8:50pm

Apple posts several system software updates

Apple has posted several updates on its software update page:

• PowerMacG4 AGP Update 1.0 helps eliminate some wake from sleep issues and increases the reliability of the Rage 128 Pro graphics card in Single processor 400MHz and dual processor 450MHz and 500MHz Power Mac G4 systems with Gigabit Ethernet. [440KB]
• AppleShare Client 3.8.8 fixes several problems, including with DHX Authentication when used with longer than eight character passwords. [2.5 MB]
• Disc Burner Version 1.0, which allows you to create your own data CDs using the built-in CD recorder. [5.6 MB]
• DVD-ROM Firmware 1.0, which places new firmware on the Apple DVD-ROM drive installed in iMac DV+, iMac DV Special Edition and Power Mac G4 Cube computers and improves the audio extraction performance of the DVD-ROM drive. [1.0 MB]
• CarbonLib 1.2, which delivers a number of new functionality and features for Carbon-based applications on Mac OS 8.6, all Mac OS 9 releases and Mac OS X. [2.7MB]
• iTunes 1.0, Apple's newly released music software, is available on users iDisks as well as online. [noted yesterday]
• Mac OS 9.1 (English-NA and English International) is also available as a multipart download or on CD for $20. [noted yesterday]

SCOL technology gains Mac support

01/10, 8:47pm

SCOL technology gains Mac support

Cryonetworks has announced the release of its SCOL technology for the Mac, a "fast and extremely light programming language that allows the creation of multi-user sites" for multimedia sites using 2D, 3D, text, audio and video or multi-user sites that allow everyone to interact live online using the latest technology available. The company also plans to release a version of the SCOL technology for Mac OS X.

wKiosk Manager and Browser at MWSF

01/10, 8:44pm

wKiosk Manager and Browser at MWSF

French company wKiosk today introduced two new products: wKiosk Manager 1.0, due in February, allows you to secure a point of internet installed in public places, providing full screen mode, a customizable navigation bar, restricted browsing, and statistics management. wKiosk Browser 1.0, due this summer, is a new internet browser based on the high-performance Netscape Gecko engine. Both are expected to work with Mac OS 9 and X and will be available in both French and English versions.

Proteron N2MP3 Pro 1.0 MP3 encoding app

01/10, 8:35pm

Proteron N2MP3 Pro 1.0 MP3 encoding app

Proteron (booth #4336) today announced the release of N2MP3 Pro 1.0, an update to its MP3 creation application. N2MP3 offers a suite of audio codecs, including the Fraunhofer's industry standard encoder, the open-source LAME encoder, Proteron's proprietary MPegger engine optimized for Apple's G4, and for the first time on the Macintosh, Ogg Vorbis open-source codec. The $60 application preforms real-time recording to MP3 files and offers support for CDDB2 from Gracenote and uncompressed AIFF and WAV files. It is a $20 upgrade for registered 1.x owners and $30 upgrade from Mpegger. A demo is availabe online.

Qilan database system for Mac OS X

01/10, 7:50pm

Qilan database system for Mac OS X

CommonGround Softworks announced Qilan for Mac OS X Public Beta, its native Cocoa database system for web servers: "It is a complete environment for the creation of user entry/output screens, logical data manipulation and data base access. With Qilan, the developer can easily link SQL database engines with the Web."

Apple Disc Burner with third-party CD-RWs

01/10, 7:47pm

Apple Disc Burner with third-party CD-RWs

Eugene Kim sent us details and instructions on how use the recently released Disc Burn 1.0 with (some) third-party CD-R drives. (Requires TomeViewer.)

AppleShare IP 6.3.3 available on CD

01/10, 6:34pm

AppleShare IP 6.3.3 available on CD

AppleShare IP 6.3.3 was also quietly released this week. Customers can receive an upgrade CD to AppleShare IP 6.3.3 through the fulfillment program for $20. ASIP 6.3.3 requires Mac OS 9.1, which is also provided as part of the fulfillment program.

Shareware contextual menu plugin for renaming

01/10, 6:26pm

Shareware contextual menu plugin for renaming

Version 3.5 of its A Better Finder Rename provides more powerful "manual" rename operations and several bug fixes to the contextual meu plugin for renaming multiple files.

QTKeys 2.5 provides access to QT instruments

01/10, 6:19pm

QTKeys 2.5 provides access to QT instruments

Relativity, Inc. has released the final version of its $20 shareware QTKeys 2.5. The update to the screen-based keyboard that provides access to built-in QuickTime Musical instruments offers multi-track recording and playback, step recording editable chords and scales, more response, and other optimizations improvements.

SysQuake to support Mac OS X

01/10, 5:39pm

SysQuake to support Mac OS X

Calerga will release SysQuake 2 for Mac OS X in the spring. SysQuake 2 is an application which helps to understand mathematics, physics and engineering. This version provides a better integrated development environment, improved graphics and better support for collections of functions written by users.

LightWave 6.5 supports Mac OS X

01/10, 5:36pm

LightWave 6.5 supports Mac OS X

NewTek's LightWave 3D 6.5, available immediately as a download to registered users of version 6, supports Mac OS X. Version 6.5 includes more than 500 new features and additions, such as enhanced stability and speed, UV texture atlas for automated complex UV map creation and continuous and discontinuous UV mapping. The final release of LightWave 3D 6.5, which will cost $2,600, will be posted shortly after the final release of Mac OS X.

Viking intros DIMMS for Sonnet upgrade

01/10, 5:33pm

Viking intros DIMMS for Sonnet upgrade

Viking Components (booth #535) has introduced 32 MB ($150) and 64 MB ($280) SDRAM DIMMs for Crescendo/7200 G3 and G4 processor upgrade cards from Sonnet Technologies. Coupons for price discounts on Viking memory are available. [site not updated]

Funnel Web 4.0.2 supports Mac OS X

01/10, 5:32pm

Funnel Web 4.0.2 supports Mac OS X

Quest Software's Funnel Web 4.0.2 will support Mac OS X when it is released. Funnel Web provides Web site traffic and online consumer behavior analysis. In addition to Mac OS X support, the update includes incremental analysis, PDF output and multisite log retrieval.

MWSF: Photo Essay I

01/10, 4:30pm

MWSF: Photo Essay I

We have a posted the first in a series of Macworld Expo photo essays that take a look at several companies exhibiting at the show. This report covers Apple, Aladdin, Connectix, Intego, Iomega, LaCie, and Roxio.

SiN II Teaser

01/10, 4:10pm

SiN II Teaser

Richard "Levelord" Gray of Ritual Entertainment updated his .plan with comments on the split of Ritual to form Mumbo Jumbo Studios and the company's desire to create SiN II, a sequel to the company's first-person shooter, SiN.

We have nothing but absolute desire to make SiN II. No one wants this more than we do! My guess is that it will happen, perhaps even this year. We are starting a very cool game right now, so it's hard to say. SiN is a Ritual property and unless someone wants to pay A LOT of money, it will always be a Ritual property.

SoundBlaster Live! delayed to March

01/10, 3:54pm

SoundBlaster Live! delayed to March

Creative Labs indicated today that the SoundBlaster Live! for the Mac is not expected to ship until March due to minor bugs and issues with portions of the product being developed by third-party partners. "We could have been the irresponsible company and released at the show," a Creative representative told MacNN, "but we would rather release a completely tested and solid product for our customers." Currently, the company has worked with Westlake Interactive to add OpenAL support, an open-source sound API, to Unreal Tournament and Deus Ex, which are being demonstrated at Macworld Expo San Francisco 2001 (booth #2339). In addition, Creative is working with other developers to add OpenAL support to existing games so that customers will be able to take advantage of 4-channel sound output for locational audio and ambient sounds.

NVIDIA's GeForce2 MX in new G4s

01/10, 3:20pm

NVIDIA's GeForce2 MX in new G4s

NVIDIA Corp. has introduced its GeForce2 MX graphics processing unit, which is included in Apple's new line of Power Mac G4s. Features include 32-bit color on a primary display screen, more than 25 million sustained triangles per second and 800 million texels per second and the graphics card includes a large 32MB SDRAM frame buffer to store large textures in games or professional applications.

Simon the Sorcerer II Golden Master

01/10, 3:17pm

Simon the Sorcerer II Golden Master

Epic Marketing has announced that Simon the Sorcerer II, a 2D adventure game, has reached golden master status and is expected to ship on January 25th. The Mac version incorporates significant changes and feature additions including French language support.

Que! D2 Dual drives

01/10, 3:14pm

Que! D2 Dual drives

QPS Inc. introduced its Que! D2 Dual drives, a FireWire-based enclosure that sports both a built-in LS120/LS240 SuperDISK or 640MB MO drive and a hard disk drive. Que! D2 Dual drives are priced at $500 for a hard drive/LS120/LS240 at $600 for a hard drive/MO combination. Both models are expected to ship this month. Que! D2 Dual drives with USB 2.0 interfaces will be available later this quarter, according to the company.

id adds AltiVec to Quake III: Arena

01/10, 3:02pm

id adds AltiVec to Quake III: Arena

id Software's Graeme Devine has announced that the company has added Velocity Engine (AltiVec) support to Quake III: Arena. The company is running the new AltiVec-enhanced version of the game on a 533 MHz G4 with an Nvidia GeForce2 MX, and Devine notes, "I think this safely puts the G4 ahead of the PC." The new version is expected to be released tomorrow.

Roundup: Master of Orion III, Myth III...

01/10, 3:01pm

Roundup: Master of Orion III, Myth III...

Yesterday Blizzard Entertainment released the Diablo II Demo for the Mac, MacPlay announced the appointment of a new President, Graphic Simulations Corporation announced a deal with THQ to publish Summoner and Red Faction for the Mac, Aspyr Media officially announced Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 for the Mac, MacSoft announced Master of Orion III for the Mac and Apple announced the addition of Nvidia GeForce2 MX graphics cards to the top three configurations of the company's Power Mac G4 line. We published an article detailing the official announcement of Myth III: The Wolf Age, the prequel real-time strategy game, as well as new information on the new company which will be developing the game, Mumbo Jumbo.

Epson unveils two whisper-quiet inkjets

01/10, 2:54pm

Epson unveils two whisper-quiet inkjets

Epson today announced two new "whisper-quiet," four-color ink jet printers: the EPSON Stylus Color 83 (Eight Cubed) and Stylus Color 880i. The printers offer up to 2880 x 720 dpi resolution and 12 ppm black and 9 ppm color speeds. The Stylus Color 83 features a distinctive clear lid with dark-turquoise buttons and paper trays to complement the design of the Power Mac G4 Cube. It is is $200 before a $30 mail-in rebate. The $150 Stylus Color 880i offers a unique "ice" exterior case with a transparent graphite lid. Both ship with EPSON Film Factory for collecting and organizing digital photos and Trellix Web for creating personalized Web sites, ArcSoft Photo Impression 2000 for photo-retourching and editing, and ArcSoft Photo Montage.

EarthBrowser 1.3.6 adds proxy support

01/10, 2:29pm

EarthBrowser 1.3.6 adds proxy support

Lunar Software's $20 shareware EarthBrowser 1.3.6 adds support for access to weather information through secure proxy servers to its Earth simulation that offers real-time weather conditions and 5 day forecasts.

Fetch 4.0b4 public beta available

01/10, 1:42pm

Fetch 4.0b4 public beta available

Jim Matthews, the author of the popular FTP program "Fetch," announced his new company to "further develop and market" the file transfer utility. Fetch Softworks has licensed the Fetch source code and name from Dartmouth College and has posted a public beta release of the software, Fetch 4.0b4, which expires May 1, 2001. [form]

Microsoft announces Office for OS X

01/10, 1:13pm

Microsoft announces Office for OS X

In a special keynote session this morning, Microsoft announced Outlook:mac 2001, a public beta of which is now available, an Office 2001 service release, and Office 2001 for Mac OS X.

Interactive Week: Jobs is "King of Cool"

01/10, 1:12pm

Interactive Week: Jobs is "King of Cool"

Steve Jobs Remains King of Cool, according to an Interactive Week column: " Apple Computer and Steve Jobs are like Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead. If you have to ask why people think they're still so great after all these years, you just don't get it. "

IMG: Scott Campbell Interview

01/10, 1:08pm

IMG: Scott Campbell Interview

IMG has published an interview with Mumbo Jumbo Studios' Scott Campbell, Lead Designer on Myth III: The Wolf Age. "This game will allow you play in the dangerous and fantastic past of the Myth world," says Campbell, "where many secrets will be revealed about the world of Myth and it's future. And, you'll be able to play Soulblighter when he was a good guy. How cool is that?"

Games: Master of Orion III for Mac and more

01/10, 12:48pm

Games: Master of Orion III for Mac and more

games.macnn.com has learned that id Software has added Velocity Engine (AltiVec) support to Quake III: Arena and Custer's Corner has been updated with a journal detailing adventures at Macworld Expo San Francisco 2001. In addition, the site has information on the official announcements of Master of Orion III and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. [updated]

Report Magic 2.04 adds language support

01/10, 12:47pm

Report Magic 2.04 adds language support

Report Magic 2.04 adds support for language files, including a new Chinese-localized version and also improves HTML generation in the Analog add-on for creating graphical reports.

Corrigo 1.3.6 adds Mac OS X PB support

01/10, 12:44pm

Corrigo 1.3.6 adds Mac OS X PB support

Corrigo 1.3.6 brings Mac OS X public beta compatibility to the German program for spellchecking and "transforming text to the reformed orthography."

Miramar solution includes IP, printer support

01/10, 12:32pm

Miramar solution includes IP, printer support

Miramar's PC-to-Mac connectivity software, PC MACLAN v7.2.1 for Windows 95/98/Me, now includes IP Client, IP Server and bi-directional printer support. PC MACLAN uses AFP (AppleTalk File Protocol) over IP to provide file access and transfer over AppleTalk, or over IP. This version also provides the ability to print to any non-PostScript printer attached to the PC network using a third-party-supported Ghostscript utility, which converts PostScript formatted files to non-PostScript and sends the job to the Windows print queue. Upgrades to the $200 application are between $70 and $100 depending on version.

Meetingmaker's includes Web-meeting solution

01/10, 12:09pm

Meetingmaker's includes Web-meeting solution

Meteor's real-time collaboration capabilities have been integrated into meetingmaker, a real-time, cross-platform enterprise-scheduling solution. This extends meetingmaker's online scheduling and calendaring capabilities to include a complete Web-meeting solution.

New adjustable keyboards from Kinesis

01/10, 12:07pm

New adjustable keyboards from Kinesis

Kinesis Corp. has introduced the Evolution, a family of fully adjustable, ergonomic computer keyboards, which have left and right modules connected only by a cable, so each module can be independently adjusted. A chair-mounted, desktop and track-mounted versions will be offered, which attaches to a fully articulating arm. The keyboards utilize a PS/2-to-USB adapter for Macintosh compatibility.

VirusBarrier 1.5 adds new features

01/10, 12:05pm

VirusBarrier 1.5 adds new features

Intego (booth #635) is demonstrating VirusBarrier 1.5, a$100 antivirus program for Macintosh, at Macworld Expo. It now includes an automatic software update engine, scans of compressed files, turbomode and a new contextual menu module. The upgrade is free to all registered users.

DealNN: Refurb iMacs, iBooks

01/10, 11:35am

DealNN: Refurb iMacs, iBooks

Today's bargains at DealNN include a refurbished iMac DV with 400-MHz processor for $800, a refurbished iBook G3 with 160-MB SDRAM for $1,100, 256-MB PC100 SDRAm for $115 after rebate with free shipping and APC SurgeArrest for laptops for $15 with free shipping.

WebSTAR 4.4 beta at MWSF, due this week

01/10, 11:25am

WebSTAR 4.4 beta at MWSF, due this week

4D, Inc. is showcasing WebSTAR Server Suite 4.4 Beta at its booth at Macworld Expo. Version 4.4 Public Beta features 4th Dimension relational database integration, support for Tomcat's JSP and Java Servlet services, a customizable Web interface for WebSTAR Mail and built-in FlexMail support for a customized web-mail interface. It is expected to be available for download from the WebSTAR web site by January 12, 2001. (Earlier this week we noted WebSTAR V and 4D 6.7 for OS X.)

New USB version of ZephIR available

01/10, 11:14am

New USB version of ZephIR available

StudioZee (booth #4154)will be exhibiting and selling a new USB version of the ZephIR, its universal infrared transmitter that is driven by a full-featured application which includes a CD Manager for multi-disc CD players, and a Channel Guide manager for Cable, DMX, and Satellite systems. The USB ZephIR can control virtually any home entertainment device through button clicks on your desktop via AppleScript-based ZephIR actions.

Useful CSMs for the control strip

01/10, 11:12am

Useful CSMs for the control strip

Clarkwood Software has posted CSM Pack 1.0, a $15 shareware set of five modules for the Macintosh's Control Strip. The software allows users to display the IP address currently assigned to the machine, easily open the CD tray on PowerBook and desktop Macs and hide and show application windows.

NetBarrier 2.0 adds privacy features

01/10, 11:11am

NetBarrier 2.0 adds privacy features

Intego yesterday introduced NetBarrier 2.0, the new version of its personal firewall software that includes control of unwanted Internet cookies and spam and the ability to filter personal information sent when connected to a web site as well as updates to its firewall support; improved gauges to monitor data traffic by protocol or application, log export, a new Aqua interface, an auto-update engine and control strip access.

Mac OS X features showcased in QT movies

01/10, 11:08am

Mac OS X features showcased in QT movies

Matt Van Drie noticed that Apple has posted movies, shown at yesterday's keynote, detailing the (enhanced) features of the Mac OS X.

MacDesktops: Angie Everhart, Bellagio ceiling

01/10, 11:08am

MacDesktops: Angie Everhart, Bellagio ceiling

During the past week, MacDesktops has posted 14 new pictures, including Angie Everhart (portraits), Apple 2000 (logos, Apple), beauty blurred (art) and blown glass ceiling, Bellagio, Las Vegas (art). The pictures are free and available in a wide range of sizes.

XLR8 intros multiprocessor upgrade cards

01/10, 11:01am

XLR8 intros multiprocessor upgrade cards

XLR8 today announced its MACh Velocity G4 MPe, a multiprocessing upgrade card that is expected to ship next month in dual 350-MHz, 400-MHz ($1050), 450-MHz ($1150) and 500 MHz ($1550) configurations. The upgrade will use the current range of MACh Speed G4 MPe ZIFs and the MACh Velocity adapter populated with either one or two ZIF processor cards. XLR8 customers can purchase the adapter with the second ZIF and the company claims that systems will work with "unbalanced" upgrades (i.e., ZIFs with different processor speeds). The release notes caveats for owners of competing ZIF upgrades:

Third party manufacturers of ZIFs, including Apple, do not connect all command lines on the ZIF, and therefore, the use of another manufacturer's non-MPe ZIF will restrict the performance of the XLR8 MACh Velocity G4 MPe to the MEI cache memory states and therefore, the overall performance.

Mac OS X Server gets quietly updated

01/10, 10:43am

Mac OS X Server gets quietly updated

Ted Swinyar talked with Apple reps on the show floor yesterday about the new version of Mac OS X Server, which Apple has quietly updated: "[Apple] basically crossed the current AppleShare IP GUI and ease of use with the current Mac OSX Server's functionality, all while building everything around the new 'guts' of OSX (client)." Setting up virtual domain hosting uses intuitive dialog boxes, and the interface is familiar to those who have used ASIP. According to Swinyar, "all of the features of a high-end Web serving solution are included, [such as] PHP4 and Perl." Apple representatives note that the product is due "soon" (6-8 weeks) after the release of Mac OS X in late March.

G4 desktop has under-the-hood improvements

01/10, 10:20am

G4 desktop has under-the-hood improvements

The new Power Macs G4s offer dozens of enhancements, including:

• 256K on-chip level 2 cache running at processor speed, plus 1MB backside level 3 cache running at one-third the processor speed (667-MHz and 733-MHz systems)
• 133-MHz system bus and PC133 SDRAM up to 1.5GB (999MB maximum per application in Mac OS 9)
• Three DIMM slots support up to 1.5GB of PC133 SDRAM
• 8x4x32x CD-RW drive drive in low-end systems whieth a DVD-R/CD-RW drive in the high-end that writes DVD-R at 2x, reads DVD at 6x, writes CD-R at 8x, writes CD-RW at 4x, reads CD at 24x
• an internal speaker, a built-in amplifier for the new Apple Pro Speakers from Harmon Kardon.
• PCI throughput has increased from 100 up to 215 megabytes per second
• a 4x AGP slot for graphics cards with BTO choices for the ATI Radeon graphics card

Motorola quietly updates G4 processor

01/10, 10:03am

Motorola quietly updates G4 processor

MacNN Reader Graham Fair noted that Apple's new Power Mac G4s uses the quietly released successor to the PowerPC 7400

"Motorola introduced the new PowerPC 7450 chip, also known as the G4+, and at least two of the four new PowerMacs must be using it - the 667 MHz version, and the 733 MHz version. The PPC 7450 is a hot-rodded version of the 7410 and 7400. Motorola also introduced the 7410 available at 533 MHz today, up from a previous best of 500 MHz." [Motorola's brochure on the PPC 7450 is summarized in our forums area]

Toth newsreader gets bug fixes

01/10, 10:02am

Toth newsreader gets bug fixes

Thoth 1.0.5, a $25 newsreader, is fully Carbonized for use on Mac OS 8.x/9.x and Mac OS X. This version fixes some problems with drag handling, works around a slow typing with flickering problem and fixes an inconsistancy in how quitting under OS X was handled compared to classic/Carbon.

Pioneer's new 'Superdrive' for G4

01/10, 9:59am

Pioneer's new 'Superdrive' for G4

Pioneer's DVR-103 recordable DVD/CD drive will be integrated in select new Power Mac G4 systems; Apple calls it the "Superdrive." The DVD-R is a 4.7-GB, write-once DVD format that is compatible with most existing video players and DVD-ROM drives. The DVR-103 drive writes and reads DVD-R, CD-R and CD-RW media, and also reads CD-ROM and DVD-ROM discs.

Day 2 at Macworld Expo

01/10, 9:58am

Day 2 at Macworld Expo

Today at Macworld, Kevin Browne, general manager of Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit, is scheduled to give a presentation from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.; today's workshops and conferences begin at 10:30 a.m.; and the exhibit hall is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (All times Pacific.)

Roundup: Jobs keynote, Mac OS 9.1, iTunes

01/10, 4:19am

Roundup: Jobs keynote, Mac OS 9.1, iTunes

Yesterday we covered Steve Jobs Macworld keynote, the release of Mac OS 9.1, new iTunes software, Roxio's new Toast 5, Alsoft's DiskWarrior 2.1, Corel's Painter 6.1, new VST-branded FireWire RAID software and portable CD-RW, and many other updates.

Captain Bumper 0.86 Released

01/10, 1:25am

Captain Bumper 0.86 Released

MacRun, a young French company whose aim is to create video games exclusively for the Mac, has released a 2-level demo version of Captain Bumper 0.86. The full version of the blasting fast "cartoon-style" arcade game will be available for purchase in March.

The Learning Co. names Game Studios

01/10, 1:13am

The Learning Co. names Game Studios

The entertainment division of The Learning Company has renamed itself to Game Studios in an effort to separate itself from the established 'Learning Company' brand in the educational and productivity markets. Game Studios will release its first game for the Mac under the new name when the company ships Myst III: Exile in April.