News Archive for 01/03/30

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EuroGamer: Roper Interview Pt. 2

03/30, 6:40pm

EuroGamer: Roper Interview Pt. 2

Part two of EuroGamer's interview with Blizzard Entertainment Senior Producer Bill Roper focuses on Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, the expansion set coming to the Mac and PC this spring/summer. Among other topics, the interview discusses an idea for combat arenas that was inevitably axed. "It was a great idea that we came up with - we'll have these arenas that people can combat in - but we didn't really plan it out very well at the beginning", Bill admitted. "So when we tried to implement it in the expansion we realised that we wouldn't be able to do it justice, and people would probably be disappointed."

Volition on Mac Summoner

03/30, 6:35pm

Volition on Mac Summoner

IMG has received word from Volition Lead Programmer Mark Allender that the Mac version of Summoner is progressing nicely. "Basically, it boils down to tweaking the sound code, networking code, and the graphics," said Allender. "I'm working on the final networking details right now-- basically hooking in support for THQMultiplay.net. Once that is done, I'll be moving on to tweaking the GL pipeline and polishing off Macintosh-specific bugs."

Console: New XBox games

03/30, 6:30pm

Console: New XBox games

Evening console news: A variety of new games for Microsoft's XBox were unveiled this week at the Tokyo Game Show including Silent Hill 2, Jikkyo World Soccer 2002, Jet Grind Radio Future, Gun Valkyrie and Dead or Alive 3; the first photos of the newly unveiled Japanese X-Box controller are now becoming available online; and America Online will give away a special edition Pokémon VW Beetle—complete with built-in television and Nintendo 64 game console—to the Grand Prize winner of its "Pokémon 3 The Movie" contest.

OS X: XLR8 cache util, HP printer drivers...

03/30, 4:05pm

OS X: XLR8 cache util, HP printer drivers...

osx.macnn.com has information on an XLR8 cache utility for OS X, HP printer drivers, a new version of Fire messaging client, a new version of the Dock utility and other notes.

OS X Server 2.0 may make inroads

03/30, 4:05pm

OS X Server 2.0 may make inroads

An interview with Bruce Hough, consulting engineer-software at Apple Canada, talk about OS X and its potential for market share expansion, noting that "by the end of April, middle of May, [Apple] will release the Mac OS X Server and [has] included a lot of services in that, everything from the traditional file and printing sharing up to a full Apache web server."

CODEC 1.01: freeware 4D plugin

03/30, 4:00pm

CODEC 1.01: freeware 4D plugin

Deep Sky Technologies has released CODEC v1.0.1, a 4th Dimension component which provides MD5 digest creation routines for 4th Dimension programmers. CODEC, a subset of functions available already in the BASh 4D component, is available for free to the developer community.

Auction Monitor 1.3b1 addresses eBay changes

03/30, 4:00pm

Auction Monitor 1.3b1 addresses eBay changes

Black Magik Software has released version 1.3b1 of Auction Monitor, a $20 utility for tracking eBay auction sales; the release addresses eBay's latest round of changes and is a free update for previosly registered users.

XLR8 posts cache util for processor upgrades

03/30, 4:00pm

XLR8 posts cache util for processor upgrades

XLR8 announced that its has its cache utility for Mac OS X, MACh Speed Control X, which will enable the backside cache to be run at 2:1 on all Macs upgraded with XLR8 upgrades, including the MACh Velocity MPe, MACh Speed G3 and G4, MACh Carrier and Carrier ZIF families of processor upgrade cards. The utility also will work with all third party processor upgrades providing they have at least 1MB of backside cache that is capable of running at a ratio of 2:1 and includes support for the pre-G3 machines as well: "Although these machines are not supported by Apple it seems a large number of people have been successful in getting OS X to install and run on the un-supported machines, we wanted these people to get the best possible experience hence this new release."

Covert Gaming Corner: Cornered Rat

03/30, 3:00pm

Covert Gaming Corner: Cornered Rat

Today's Covert Gaming Corner features a three-page interview with Cornered Rat Software's Russell "Hoss" Mirabelli, Chris "Mo" Sherland and Rodney "Hatch" Hodge on the company's upcoming massively multiplayer game for the Mac and PC, World War II Online. The interview covers many aspects of the game as well as details on the Mac version, Mac OS X support and its impending release.

Games: World War II Online Interview

03/30, 2:55pm

Games: World War II Online Interview

games.macnn.com has published its latest Covert Gaming Corner featuring an interview with Cornered Rat Software on its upcoming massively multiplayer online war game for the Mac and PC, World War II Online.

Australian resellers put into receivership

03/30, 1:35pm

Australian resellers put into receivership

Buzzle, a consortium of Apple resellers across Australia formed about six months ago was put into receivership yesterday, after reports circulated that the company owed $24 million to Apple Australia. The company is continuing to operate its retail stores, promising staff that their wages and entitlements were not at risk.

OS X Dock utility supports all localizations

03/30, 1:10pm

OS X Dock utility supports all localizations

Austin Shoemaker's Docking Maneuvers 1.1 enables support for changing the orientation and pinning of the Dock for every language supported by Mac OS X.

AppleScript book coming in May

03/30, 1:05pm

AppleScript book coming in May

O'Reilly, publisher of popular programming and technical books, will be publishing a book covering Applescript in May, "Applescript in a Nutshell" by Bruce W. Perry, an independent software developer and writer.

Architosh: Project Messiah for 3D modelling

03/30, 12:10pm

Architosh: Project Messiah for 3D modelling

Architosh has a report on 3D modeling/rendering/animation software called Project Messiah, which is expected to be ported to OS X.

Black & Blue 3.1: update to error code app

03/30, 11:55am

Black & Blue 3.1: update to error code app

Black & Bleu 3.1 is a maintenance release to the $75 application that provides a brief description of over 5000 Macintosh OS error codes as well as a detailed analysis and suggestions for handling the errors.

Opera technology Preview 2 available

03/30, 11:55am

Opera technology Preview 2 available

Opera Technology Preview 2 fixes most bugs in the first release technology release of the browser, but "will not work under Mac OS X in Classic mode, this version is just an upgrade because TP1 expires. A new version will follow in April, this will work under Mac OS X Classic mode."

GS: Baldur's Gate II Postgame Wrap-Up

03/30, 11:50am

GS: Baldur's Gate II Postgame Wrap-Up

A Baldur's Gate II Postgame Wrap-up at GameSpot offers comments from Bioware joint-CEOs Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk on the development of their latest fantasy role-playing game, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. The game is now in development for the Mac at Mumbo Jumbo Studios and is expected to be released later this year.

Evihcra.com adds Marathon archive

03/30, 11:45am

Evihcra.com adds Marathon archive

Evihcra.com has added an archive for Marathon maps and mods known as Lh'owon Ar'kives, "a fully interactive, highly organized, and customizable online database community where you can present your own hard work to the world as well as submit reviews of the work of others." In addition, the site has opened a new Marathon Forum for discussing the popular Bungie series.

New Diablo II: LoD screenshot

03/30, 11:40am

New Diablo II: LoD screenshot

Blizzard Entertainment has posted a new screenshot from Diablo II: Lord of Destruction which shows the Druid, one of the expansion set's two new character classes, shapeshifted into bear form and running through snow in the Barbarian Highlands of Act V.

Rune: Halls of Valhalla model, screenshots

03/30, 11:35am

Rune: Halls of Valhalla model, screenshots

The Adrenaline Vault has posted a new female character model and five new screenshots from Rune: Halls of Valhalla, the multiplayer-focused expansion pack for third-person 3D action game Rune. The screenshots feature one of the expansion set's new female characters.

Console: Sega games for XBox

03/30, 11:30am

Console: Sega games for XBox

Morning console news: Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates delivered a keynote speech last night at the Tokyo Game Show where he announced that Sega would release 11 new games for its XBox game console and that the company will throw $500 million into its first 18 months of marketing; Acclaim Sports has announced Blast Lacrosse for the Playstation, "the first ever lacrosse title in video game history"; 989 Sports, after accurately predicting the winner of last year's NCAA Final Four bastetball tournament, has announced that its NCAA Final Four 2001 for the Playstation 2 has predicted Arizona to beat Duke for the championship; and Radica Games has announced that it will make accessories for Microsoft's XBox game console.

HP posts OS X support information

03/30, 11:00am

HP posts OS X support information

HP has posted a series of OS X-related support articles, although drivers appear to not yet be available.

REALbasic 3.1b5 fixes bugs, adds features

03/30, 10:00am

REALbasic 3.1b5 fixes bugs, adds features

REAL Software has posted REALbasic 3.1b5 fixes several bugs with application development environment for Mac OS 8/9 and X. The new version is required for 3.0 customers wishing to use REALbasic under Mac OS X. Additionally, REALbasic for Dummies is now available for purchase ($25).

OpenGraph coming to OS X in June

03/30, 10:00am

OpenGraph coming to OS X in June

OpenGraph, a "programming framework for high-transaction and real-time graphing," is expected to be released for Mac OS X in June. Additional details regarding the product and the port are available on the site.

Apple VP leaves company

03/30, 10:00am

Apple VP leaves company

Clent Richardson, Apple's VP of worldwide developer relations, is reportedly leaving the company to pursue a position at One 2 One, a UK-based mobile phone company.

Upside.com: 83% disagree OS X is "half-baked

03/30, 8:45am

Upside.com: 83% disagree OS X is "half-baked

83% of Upside.com readers disagreed with the assessment that OS X is half-baked, after the site put Apple in the spotlight for its weekly "On Trial" feature. The result was no doubt spurred by the promotion of the article on several Mac sites, this one included.

Apple's year-over-year laptop sales grow 31%

03/30, 8:30am

Apple's year-over-year laptop sales grow 31%

Sparked by sales of the PowerBook G4, Apple's year-over-year retail laptop sales grew 31 percent in February according to NPD Intelect, far surpassing the average industry growth of just 2.3 percent. The PowerBook G4 comprised 52 percent of Apple's laptop sales, while the iBook took the remaining 48 percent. It's important to note, however, that whereas the PowerBook G4 began shipping in quantity in February this year, last year's FireWire PowerBook G3 was introduced towards the end of the month at Macworld Tokyo. Therefore, sales of PowerBooks in the year-ago period were understandably soft.

Feedback: iTools, NYT review, WMP 7 release..

03/30, 8:20am

Feedback: iTools, NYT review, WMP 7 release..

We've received dozens of follow-up comments on iTools service problems, overclocking a PowerBook G4, David Pogue's review of OS X in The New York Times, Apple's reliance on Motorola and IBM, Windows Media 7 release, OS 9.1 CD incompatibility with some Macs, Outposts.com's changing shipping policy, Microsoft's possible move to FireWire, and US school spending on Macs.

MacNN Review: Belkin Parkway

03/30, 8:15am

MacNN Review: Belkin Parkway

We have posted a review of Belkin's Parkway, a unique laptop backpack carrying case that features a single strap.

Roundup: Apple in DC, USB 2.0 PCI card...

03/30, 8:15am

Roundup: Apple in DC, USB 2.0 PCI card...

Yesterday we noted Apple's retail plans for DC, OrangMicro's USB 2.0 PCI card, Apple's AppleScript 1.6, the new ALAMDV special effects application, details on overlocking a PowerBook G4, and 4-Sight Fax's acquisition by Soft Solutions. Other updates included Netware 5.1.4 update, April virus file definitions, and Snak 4.6.

Roundup: Monopoly Casino Review

03/30, 8:00am

Roundup: Monopoly Casino Review

Yesterday we published a review of Monopoly Casino; Epic Interactive announced Knights and Merchants for the Mac, a classic real-time strategy game that recreates the era of the Middle Ages; and Targetware released the first public version of its open architecture flight model and weapons specifications for its upcoming massive multiplayer online combat flight sim, Target Korea.

WebGrabber, WebTime, screen savers for OS X

03/30, 4:00am

WebGrabber, WebTime, screen savers for OS X

Epicware has several other OS X utilities: WebGrabber 0.6 is a utility that you can use to "mirror, copy, synchronize, download, scrub or 'steal' a web site;" WebTime 1.4 displays the new Swatch Internet time in your dock; and Mac OS X Screen Savers 3.0, a third collection of screen savers that consists of 17 OpenGL-accelerated savers and 5 non-accelerated savers.

Audion 2.1PR3 for OS X fixes bugs, more Aqua

03/30, 3:55am

Audion 2.1PR3 for OS X fixes bugs, more Aqua

Panic has released Audion 2.1 PR3 for Mac OS X, which primarily addresses a "scrambled audio" bug (which caused garbled or underwater-sounding audio under heavy processor load), and brings greater Aqua compliance to windows and dialogs.

Epicware Fire 0.24a works around AOL block

03/30, 3:35am

Epicware Fire 0.24a works around AOL block

Epicware has again updated its excellent AOL IM client clone to work around the AOL bock with Fire 0.24a: "AOL service has been moved from oscar to toc using firetalk. You WILL NEED TO move your old Fire.app out of the way. Do not copy this app on top of older fire applications. I will not support users that end up with 2 aim connection bundles."

AppleWorks 6.1.2 updater on iDisks

03/30, 3:20am

AppleWorks 6.1.2 updater on iDisks

Apple has posted an AppleWorks 6.1.2 updater on users' iDisks, after pulling the AppleWorks 6.1 updater made available earlier this week.

Fantom offers new FireWire RAID solutions

03/30, 3:15am

Fantom offers new FireWire RAID solutions

Fantom Drives announced its new FireWire RAID solutions, offering software-based RAID 0 (striping) FireWire storage in capacities of 90GB ($1600), 120GB ($1900), and 150GB ($2200) using two 7,200 rpm drives of equal size. All models ship with an IEEE-1394 cable and InTech's Hard Disk Speed Tools formatting utility, and are covered by a 1-year warranty. Four-drive solutions in capacities of 180GB, 240GB, and 300GB are due in April.

Lockout 3.1: shareware security tool

03/30, 3:10am

Lockout 3.1: shareware security tool

Maui Software's $15 shareware security utility, Lockout 3.1, interfaces with the Power Manager to optionally spin-down the hard disk when it goes into Lockout mode. It is a free upgrade and also avaialable as beta application for OS X. [Classic, Carbon]

Beehive FTP Forms 2.7 integrates SendFile.NET

03/30, 3:10am

Beehive FTP Forms 2.7 integrates SendFile.NET

Pine Island Software has released Beehive FTP Forms v2.7, its desktop file transfer client as well as an updated version of its automation utility, Beehive FTP manager v2.7. The client adds native html forms support, job numbering, scheduled folder polling and auto-send, multiple email notifications, central administration and updating and complete integration with Pine Island's universal file transfer portal SendFile.NET, a service that provides compressed and encrypted file delivery via a Java applet. The $600 service includes unlimited ftp client distribution (Mac, Windows and Java).

Convert C functions, apps to BASIC

03/30, 2:50am

Convert C functions, apps to BASIC

In the final stages of development, Michael Kluskens's CtoFB3 0.5.0b application translates functions and programs from the C programming language into FutureBASIC^3 LOCAL FNs requiring minimal editing.

Optigold 2.7 adds Turkish language support

03/30, 2:45am

Optigold 2.7 adds Turkish language support

Optigold ISP 2.7, a cross-platform business software package for running an ISP, brings additional web interface options, employee web security, Web-based management preferences, and other options.

PhotoPage 1.4a1: OS X support, new options

03/30, 2:40am

PhotoPage 1.4a1: OS X support, new options

The freeware application for publishing a collection of images quickly onto the Web, PhotoPage 1.4a1 is now Carbonized for OS X and also adds a thumbnail tab to document settings window, the option to select a destination folder for output, and the ability to turn off link borders in images.

Util for USB microphone controls output/input

03/30, 2:30am

Util for USB microphone controls output/input

Griffin Technology's iMic Control 1.0b6 utility, intended for use with its $35 iMic universal USB audio input and output adapter, offers output control over bass, treble, volume, mute, and balance as well as control over audio input gain. [updated]