News Archive for 01/02/07

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Netscape 6.01 available on Netscape

02/07, 9:50pm

Netscape 6.01 available on Netscape

Netscape has posted Netscape 6.01, a maintenance update to its browser based on the new Gecko engine.

Formac begins shipping FireWire CD-RWs

02/07, 9:15pm

Formac begins shipping FireWire CD-RWs

Formac today began notifying customers that pre-orders for its 12x/10x/32x FireWire CD-RW drive will begin shipping on Monay, Febraury 12th; however, there was no mention of the ship status (or date) of the faster 16x version was announced at the same time.

Only Mac shop in Northern Ireland closes

02/07, 6:40pm

Only Mac shop in Northern Ireland closes

A European reader notes the closure of "the only" Mac shop in Northern Ireland: "Only Solutions, the only Mac shop in Northern Ireland, closed their retail operations a week ago. Their engineering department seems to be surviving as a separate entity but the managers of O.S. claim to be continuing with their Education and Corporate customers and ignoring the Mac user on the street. This doesn't come as a great surprise however but it does leave a gap in the market for someone with a little customer focus."

Computer Town closes Brookline store

02/07, 6:15pm

Computer Town closes Brookline store

A reader from the East Coast e-mailed us to say that the Computer Town in Brookline, Mass. has closed its doors:

"Another Mac-centered retailer is closed: Boston's Computer Town presence (in Brookline, really) is gone as of today. (You'd think a community full of college students, media-types, and urban hipsters could keep a store like this in business....) I just went and picked up a laptop they were holding for repair; when I was called the tech said that I had to come get it today, and when I showed up the windows were papered over and the shelves were bare! I was told that the New Hampshire store would stay open. This is interesting, since the Boston store really used to be in downtown Boston, but moved a few miles west to a cheaper neighborhood about a year ago. Apparently the rumors surrounding their condition are being borne out."

Heartsoft ships Internet Safari

02/07, 6:15pm

Heartsoft ships Internet Safari

Heartsoft has begun shipping its Internet Safari, a secure browser for children. The company has also added three Web sites to its list of Premium Content Providers: Time for Kids, CBS Sportsline Kid's Zone and Crayola.

QuickTime Preview 3 seeded to developers

02/07, 6:10pm

QuickTime Preview 3 seeded to developers

A reader notes that QuickTime Preview 3 is now avaialble to developers: "Quicktime 5 Preview 3 released for Mac and Windows. Available through the Quicktime updater IF you have the developer release (last update was b8). The update is not available to those who downloaded the regular Public Preview 2 yet (though presumably will soon). Of course, no word on what's new or improved. :-("

Free seminar for architects on storage

02/07, 6:10pm

Free seminar for architects on storage

Integrated CADD Services, LaCie and Quantum are conducting a free, half-day seminar, called Storage Solutions for Architects and Designers. The seminar will be held March 7 in Boston from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Higher resolutions for Neverwinter Nights

02/07, 6:00pm

Higher resolutions for Neverwinter Nights

Bioware's Trent Oster, Producer on Neverwinter Nights, notes in the game's official forums that the company recently added the ability to switch to higher resolutions in the 3D role-playing game. "...the game looks amazing at 1600x1200. The frame rate doesn't totally suck either," says Oster. "The only problem is the higher resolutions take up greater amounts of video memory, leaving less for high resolution textures."

SiN Patch in testing

02/07, 5:25pm

SiN Patch in testing

MacPlay is currently testing a patch internally for SiN Gold which corrects a problem that prevents those using an international version of the Mac OS to play the game. The company does not recommend using an unofficial patch currently circulating which claims to correct the problem.

EV: Nova Progress Log Update

02/07, 5:00pm

EV: Nova Progress Log Update

Ambrosia Software's Matt Burch has updated the progress log for Escape Velocity: Nova, the company's space action/role-playing game threequel. "Each size of asteroid can have up to 8 graphic types," notes Burch.

Gamasutra: Elite Force Postmortem

02/07, 4:49pm

Gamasutra: Elite Force Postmortem

Gamasutra has posted a Postmortem for Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force, the first-person shooter action game for the Mac and PC. The article was written by Raven Software's Brian Pelletier, Mike Gummelt and James Monroe and includes the usual "what went right", "what went wrong" and "final thoughts" along with unique insight into the game's production including story boards that sketch out the game's plot.

Titaniums trickling in slowly, some delayed

02/07, 3:30pm

Titaniums trickling in slowly, some delayed

Several readers have reported that Titanium PowerBook G4s are beginning to appear at retail CompUSA locations accross the US: "Powerbook G4s are hitting CompUSA stores... most of Florida already has stock, but not too much, only a few units per store." However, all catalog and mailorder resellers indicate delays of 1 week or more on initial shipments of the PowerBook, which were expected this week.

Extensis discontinues PhotoGraphics 1.0

02/07, 3:20pm

Extensis discontinues PhotoGraphics 1.0

Extensis has discontinued PhotoGraphics 1.0, its drawing tools and advanced text suite for Photoshop, after a "major incompatibility" with Mac OS 9.1, according to emails from company representatives: "Development efforts on Photographics has been discontinued due to declining interest from our customers and a major incompatibility introduced with Mac OS 9.1. For these reasons, we have decided to cease selling this product. Technical support will still be available though September 1, 2001. In light of this there will be no further updates to the product."

MacNN Review: NetBarrier 2.0

02/07, 2:30pm

MacNN Review: NetBarrier 2.0

We have a posted a review of NetBarrier 2, the latest version of the Internet security utility from Intego.

Centipede for Mac reaches alpha

02/07, 2:10pm

Centipede for Mac reaches alpha

Centipede for the Mac, in development at Westlake Interactive, has reached the alpha stage of development. Alpha means that the game is "still pretty buggy, and a few features are not working fully".

Myth III: The Wolf Age Mapmaking

02/07, 1:48pm

Myth III: The Wolf Age Mapmaking

Vista Cartel's Myth Editing Forum has seen its fair share of visits from the Myth III: The Wolf Age development team this week with posts from Fisj to answer questions and calm concerns for map authors anxiously awaiting the opportunity to show their creativity. "Since the models will have high-res textures and decent poly counts, Myth 3 will look extremely nice up close," says Fisj, "as well as looking damn sexy far out." Fisj also mentions that the team is hoping to allow custom gametypes, although its appearance will depend solely on the amount of time that they have remaining at the end of the project.

Red Faction First Look

02/07, 1:21pm

Red Faction First Look

PlanetPS2 has published a first look at Red Faction, Volition's first-person shooter coming to the Mac and PC this Fall. The game offers a number of unique features including a special trait for the game's rocket launchers...

Games: Marathon Rubicon and more

02/07, 1:15pm

Games: Marathon Rubicon and more

games.macnn.com has posted information on a massive new scenario for Bungie's Marathon Infinity engine and new mods for both Rogue Spear and Rainbow Six.

Marathon Rubicon unveiled

02/07, 1:08pm

Marathon Rubicon unveiled

Marathon Rubicon, a massive new scenario for Bungie's Marathon Infinity engine, was announced today. In development for several years, Marathon Rubicon features a nonlinear plotline that can be tranversed in any number of ways, featuring different endings based upon a player's choices over the course of the game. Additional features include...

'Too bad cool does not equal profitable"

02/07, 12:30pm

'Too bad cool does not equal profitable"

Calling the new Titanium PowerBook G4 "the most impressive notebook computer ever," Fortune says that "the titanium-hard truth is that Apple needs all the innovation, sex appeal, and, well, luck that it can muster if it is to gain market share in a world dominated by the Microsoft Windows operating system."

Escape from Monkey Island ISp support

02/07, 12:00pm

Escape from Monkey Island ISp support

Westlake Interactive's Jesse Spears, Lead Programmer on the Mac port of Escape from Monkey Island, told games.macnn.com that one of the few features remaining to be implemented in the 3D adventure game is InputSprocket support. This will give users the standard InputSprocket configuration dialog for setting up their input devices for use within the game. "Mostly I've just got bug fixes and general polishing/cleaning up [to do]," says Spears. Westlake announced yesterday that Escape from Monkey Island had started beta testing.

RPGV: Summoner Screenshots

02/07, 11:53am

RPGV: Summoner Screenshots

RPG Vault has posted twenty new screenshots from the opening cinematic of Summoner, Volition's 3D role-playing game coming to the Mac and PC this spring.

New Nikon SLR cameras due later this year

02/07, 11:50am

New Nikon SLR cameras due later this year

Nikon Corp has introduced two new FireWire-based professional SLR digital cameras. The $5,500 D1X due out this spring features a 5.47-megapixel CCD and offers resolutions up to 3,008x1,960, while the $4,500, 2.74-megapixel D1H, offers offers the ability to shoot up to 40 shots at 5fps, is due out this summer. (Toshiba also announced new digital cameras this week.)

DAMN offers Rogue Spear/Rainbow Six mods

02/07, 11:46am

DAMN offers Rogue Spear/Rainbow Six mods

DAMN Gamer has added six new mods for the Mac version of Rogue Spear -- Clashes 2000, Done Deal, Unsanctioned Missions, Cuba Missile Crisis, FemBots and FCF Trainer map -- and two new mods for the Mac version of Rainbow Six -- Croonerb's GoCodes 2.0 and R6 Never Dies Map Add On -- to its extensive collection. DAMN Gamer at Planet Rainbow Six hails itself as the "main Mac resource for Rainbow Six and Rogue Spear mods and news."

Mega Minesweeper 1.7 Released

02/07, 11:45am

Mega Minesweeper 1.7 Released

Mega Minesweeper 1.7, a Carbonized application that runs natively in both Mac OS 8.x/9.x and Mac OS X, is a modern version of minesweeper that supports extreme fields sizes, plug-in based themes and sounds, the ability to save games and more. Version 1.7 introduces a new storage format that cuts the memory requirements of each game by half and includes revamped and OS X-ified application and saved game icons.

Aladdin DragStrip 3.7.2 supports OS 9.1

02/07, 11:25am

Aladdin DragStrip 3.7.2 supports OS 9.1

Aladdin's $20 desktop organizer and launcher, DragStrip 3.7.2, addresses cosmetic issues when running under Mac OS 9.1.

Easy Fractal 2.0: new interface, more options

02/07, 11:10am

Easy Fractal 2.0: new interface, more options

Berkhan Software's Easy Fractal 2.0 adds a "completely redesigned" interface, a new Fractal Editor with functions for rotation and 3D projection, new interation projections, an expanded color palette, and larger image support to the shareware that calculates fractals (Mandelbrot´s Set and Julia's Set).

DealNN: 21" CRT for $350, PB G3/400 for $170

02/07, 10:55am

DealNN: 21" CRT for $350, PB G3/400 for $170

Bargains today at DealNN include a Micron 21-inch monitor for $350, a refurbished PowerBook G3/400 for $1,700, nine Mac Games less than $25 and a refurbished Power Mac 6400/1800 on auction for $200.

Mail Beacon 1.2: email notification client

02/07, 10:55am

Mail Beacon 1.2: email notification client

Mail Beacon 1.2 is a $10 shareware that alerts you when new POP3 or IMAP4 messages arrive and/or when messages are deleted; it can also filter email without downloading it and can function as an online email client. Version 1.2 allows you import and export filters, add password protection, and other enhancements.

Roundup: Monkey Island goes beta and more

02/07, 10:50am

Roundup: Monkey Island goes beta and more

Yesterday Pangea Software posted its official strategy guide for Cro-Mag Rally, Westlake Interactive announced that beta testing had begun for Escape from Monkey Island for the Mac and Blizzard Entertainment updated its official FAQ for expansion pack Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. We added Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast to our Game Center, started a new poll on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 for the Mac and published our review of Rune, the third-person 3D action game from Human Head Studios that features a Viking armed with large and deadly axes, swords and hammers.

Roundup: FrameMaker rumors, HP rebate...

02/07, 10:35am

Roundup: FrameMaker rumors, HP rebate...

Yesterday we noted Adobe's denial of 'FrameMaker dead' rumors published by Infoworld, Adobe PS 8.7.1issues with PressReady, printer news from Olympus and Canon, Mac installation in a car for playing MP3s and Apple/HP's extended rebate offer. Other updates include SoftPress Freeway 3.1, and Macromedia's Fireworks 4.02 updater.

MacDesktops: 1984, Power to burn, PB G4

02/07, 10:30am

MacDesktops: 1984, Power to burn, PB G4

Over the past week, MacDesktops posted 14 new pictures, including 1984 (Logos, Apple), Apple bullet (Logos, Apple), Power to burn (PowerMac G4s), Supercomputer to go. (PowerBook G4), and many others. The site is updated daily. As always, the pictures are free and available in a wide range of sizes.

OS X for under $100, bundled with systems

02/07, 10:30am

OS X for under $100, bundled with systems

Several readers have noticed that Mac Zone is offering a $30-off rebate on preorders of Mac OS X, matching the $30 coupon for beta testers. The Mac Zone e-mail also offers OS X for free with the purchase of a new tower or a copy for $50 with an order of an iMac or G4 Cube.

NameCleaner 2.1 supports Internet config

02/07, 10:30am

NameCleaner 2.1 supports Internet config

Sig Software's NameCleaner 2.1, a utility for the Macintosh to manipulate file names and types, adds support for Internet Config or Internet control panel file mappings, optional case sensitivity, recursive searching, character and string wildcards to the Find and Replace Phrases cleaner and several minor interface improvements. The company has also posted two detailed guides explaining the steps to transfer files between Mac OS and Windows.

Forums: PB customs snafu, data DVDs

02/07, 10:15am

Forums: PB customs snafu, data DVDs

Interesting threads in our forums include more talk on AirPort reception in the Titanium PowerBooks, data DVDs on the SuperDrive, a customs snafu with Titanium PowerBook G4 orders, forced (higher) external resolutions on a PowerBook G4, IBM 20Gb Travelstar rattle, using a nVidia GeForce 2 in an older G4 AGP, and questions about HP printer drivers for OS X.

QPS adds $30 rebate to internal CD-RW, Combo

02/07, 10:15am

QPS adds $30 rebate to internal CD-RW, Combo

QPS today announced it is extending its $30 rebate offer to include all Que! IDE/ATAPI CD-RW and Combo internal drives for all purchases through retail or mailorder outlets through March 31, 2001. (Requests must be postmarked by April 15.)

Architosh: FMPro for architects, NASA on OS X

02/07, 9:50am

Architosh: FMPro for architects, NASA on OS X

Architosh has a report on Mac architect Barry Isakson's FileMaker solutions for architecture as well as a story on what NASA Glenn scientists want for Mac OS X.

Contextual menu for renaming gets updated

02/07, 9:30am

Contextual menu for renaming gets updated

Frank Reiff has posted A Better Finder Rename 3.6, his contextual menu plug-in for renaming files. This release offers more powerful "manual" rename operations to be performed and introduces multiple character replacements for exporting of file names to UNIX and Windows computers. It is available as A Better Finder tool series for $45 or separately for $15.

Ratoc updates driver for PB FireWire PC card

02/07, 9:30am

Ratoc updates driver for PB FireWire PC card

Ratoc has posted FireWire PC card 2.0, an update driver for its PowerBook FireWire card.

Tech: eBay market place, Sony DVD/CD-RWs

02/07, 8:35am

Tech: eBay market place, Sony DVD/CD-RWs

Morning tech news: eBay is opening its marketplace to service providers, such as Web site development, graphics design and language translation; Intel's Chairman Andrew Grove wants Congress to include an item in its tax-cut package to encourage small businesses to invest in computers, software and high-speed Internet connections; and Sony will begin adding a CD-RW/DVD-ROM, as a "single, versatile drive," to its VAIO notebook line.

Information Week: 'Mac Suits Up For Business

02/07, 1:25am

Information Week: 'Mac Suits Up For Business

Information Week's Mac Suits Up For Business talks about the productivity gains Apple has seen for business users: "the Macintosh is achieving interoperability and improved performance through better software from Microsoft and Apple, making the Mac a more viable choice for the desktop than it has ever been."

Reader: Apple should reinstate Contributions

02/07, 1:10am

Reader: Apple should reinstate Contributions

Justen Bias sent us a note about Apple's Corporate Contributions program, which was canceled several years ago, but has since not been reinstated:

"Apple, certainly, is one of the few Fortune 500 companies, and certainly the only company of its calibre, that systematically and fully denies support to needy organisations. Microsoft, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Epson, Kodak, The Walt Disney Company, Gateway, and Dell are just a handful of Apple competitors and supporters that have fully operational corporate contributions..."

D1 Desktop 128HD with uncompressed HDTV

02/07, 12:45am

D1 Desktop 128HD with uncompressed HDTV

Digital Voodoo will introduce a 10-bit real-time effects, and full, uncompressed HDTV support in its upcoming D1 Desktop 128HD, which will be showcased at NAB 2001. Its D1 Desktop series offers uncompressed editing with Apple's Final Cut Pro, design with Adobe After Effects, and broadcast paint with Adobe PhotoShop.

MacInvoice 1.1: free upgrades for year

02/07, 12:40am

MacInvoice 1.1: free upgrades for year

MacInvoice 1.1 adds International support for English-speaking countries, multiple currencies, optional password protection on startup, and email statements to the $40 billing, reporting, and invoice management application. All registered owners are entitled to free upgrades during 2001, including an update to the Cocoa version for Mac OS X due later this year.

New AppleScripts for Entourage, OE users

02/07, 12:40am

New AppleScripts for Entourage, OE users

Paul Berkowitz has released 4 AppleScripts that will export and enable import of multiple contacts from Entourage and OE 5 to other users, other Identities and OE 5.5 (Windows): "Although Entourage and OE 5 can export entire Address Books to other Identities, and Entourage can do individual vCards, neither can export multiple contacts, nor any contacts to OE Windows. These scripts will do all of that." [Export Selected Contacts: E-E, E-Win, OE-OE, OE-Win]