News Archive for 01/06/04

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MySQL 3.23.32 Update for OS X Server

06/04, 8:15pm

MySQL 3.23.32 Update for OS X Server

Apple has released a MySQL 3.23.32 Update for Mac OS X Server 10.0.3. The new version of the open source database server remains slightly behind the most current release of MySQL, version 3.23.38, due to the time required to test and certify the server within Mac OS X Server.

Mag-Tek introduces USB magnetic strip reader

06/04, 8:00pm

Mag-Tek introduces USB magnetic strip reader

Mag-Tek Inc. has introduced a new "Mini USB" magnetic stripe swipe reader, which requires 50% less space than full-size readers and requires no external power source. Production of the device is underway, although no firm release date has been set.

Formac drops prices on FW CD-RW, DVD-RAM

06/04, 7:50pm

Formac drops prices on FW CD-RW, DVD-RAM

Formac has dropped prices on its FireWire CD-RW and DVD-RAM drives. Formac 16x10x40 CD-RW is now available for $290, with a 24x10x40 version scheduled for release in mid-June. The Formac 9.4GB DVD-RAM drive now sells for $480.

Dreamweaver UltraDev extensions for JSP

06/04, 7:30pm

Dreamweaver UltraDev extensions for JSP

At the 2001 JavaOne SM Developers Conference, Macromedia announced that Blue Martini Software would deliver extensions for Dreamweaver UltraDev later this year that let developers visually design Java Server Pages (JSP), and insert or modify objects and method calls for Blue Martini applications from within the UltraDev user interface without having to write code.

ZDNet: The end of the Free Web?

06/04, 6:45pm

ZDNet: The end of the Free Web?

In "Free Web: its days are numbered?", ZDNet ponders whether the age of free content on the Web is coming to an end, as dot-com companies discover that providing free content and services is becoming increasingly more difficult to maintain as a profitable business strategy. "...the introduction of charges may fundamentally alter the course of the medium. This evolution could create a new kind of digital divide linked to one's ability to pay for information and services, giving rise to virtually gated and balkanized communities throughout cyberspace."

Apple CarbonLib SDK 1.4a3 posted

06/04, 6:20pm

Apple CarbonLib SDK 1.4a3 posted

Apple CarbonLib SDK 1.4a3 is the latest pre-release version of the software development kit for Carbon applications. The SDK is available only to Apple Developer Connection (ADC) members.

NotifyMail 4.0.4: Instant email notification

06/04, 6:05pm

NotifyMail 4.0.4: Instant email notification

NotifyMail 4.0.4 is a new version of the $18 shareware application that works in conjunction with a user's mail server to provide instant notification. The new version changes the default port back to 79 for improved compatibility, updates documentation with frames and addition server support, adds an installer for Mac OS X, and splits the Classic and Mac OS X versions. [Classic: 440 KB; OS X: 718 KB]

Monsoon iM-700 speakers now USB compatible

06/04, 5:40pm

Monsoon iM-700 speakers now USB compatible

Monsoon's iM-700 Flat Panel Audio System is now USB compatible, after Sonigistix developed an in-line cable attachment for the product. "The device works well with Apple's new OS X operating system and is designed to support Apple's move to USB audio." The USB-compatible audio system is available now for $170.

Monitorer 1.0: Record keystrokes

06/04, 5:35pm

Monitorer 1.0: Record keystrokes

Burning Bytes' Monitorer 1.0 is a $5 utility that records keystrokes in order to prevent loss of data to a crash, power outage, or other system disturbance.

Stone Studio 5-packs available now

06/04, 5:25pm

Stone Studio 5-packs available now

Stone Design is now offering 5-packs of its Stone Studio suite of applications for Mac OS X. The suite of applications lets users perform graphic design with page layout and web publishing features, manage digital photos, track time and bill clients, and produce PDF from PostScript files. Users can buy four copies of Stone Studio at the introductory price of $300 each and receive a fifth copy free.

Agere develops FireWire/USB card

06/04, 3:00pm

Agere develops FireWire/USB card

Agere Systems has developed a reference design for a 1394a (FireWire) and Universal Serial Bus (USB) host functionality on a single PCI card. The card integrates a 400 Megabits per second physical-layer FireWire IC and a QuadraBus USB IC that supports a total device bandwidth of 48 Mbits. Manufacturers of Macintosh expansion cards plan to begin delivering products based on this design before the end of the Summer.

FasFile comes to Macintosh

06/04, 2:55pm

FasFile comes to Macintosh

Seek Systems, Inc. has announced that its FasFile RAID product has completed Apple compatibility requirements for the Macintosh platform. Because of the host independence of FasFile RAID, users can attach Macintosh, Windows, UNIX, and Linux platforms to the same FasFile RAID system for file and application sharing. With a standard external SCSI connector, the FasFile storage array does not require any modification to the Mac OS.

ZiO! bundled with Canon S800 printer

06/04, 2:45pm

ZiO! bundled with Canon S800 printer

Canon is now bundling Microtech's pocket-sized ZiO! digital film reader with its Canon S800 Color Bubble Jet Photo Printer. The S800 photo printer outposts high-resolution photos on plain and specialty paper at 2400x1200 dpi. The printer can output a full 8" x 10" color print in approximately two minutes.

BASh 1.5.7: 4D component

06/04, 1:45pm

BASh 1.5.7: 4D component

Deep Sky Technologies has released BASh 1.5.7, a 4th Dimension component that provides extensive utility functionality for 4D programmers, including a dynamic stack space module for reusing variable space. BASh v1.5.7 contains 23 new methods, including 2 new modules of code.

RealBasic to be sold in Australia

06/04, 1:45pm

RealBasic to be sold in Australia

Real Software, developer of the popular Macintosh programming tool REALbasic, has announced that Streetwise Software will immediately assume all sales, marketing, and support of REALbasic in Australia. Streetwise already distributes titles from Blizzard, Sierra, and Graphic Simulations.

OmniWeb nabs Apple Design Awards

06/04, 12:35pm

OmniWeb nabs Apple Design Awards

The Omni Group, at Apple's recent Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), won Apple Design Awards for "Best Mac OS X User Experience" and "Best New Mac OS X Product" for its Mac OS X native browser, OmniWeb. Catchy Software's AutoCompleter was awarded "Best Mac OS X technology Adoption," while Tenon Intersystems' Xtools won "Most Innovative Mac OS X Product".

Packetport.com unveils VoicePak Phone

06/04, 11:30am

Packetport.com unveils VoicePak Phone

Packetport.com has introduced the VoicePak Phone Handset, a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone for making phone calls over the Internet. The VoicePak Phone Handset is compatible with both Mac and Windows and includes a built-in microphone, speaker, DSP processor, USB interface, and volume control. The company will demonstrate VoicePak this week at the SuperComm 2001 Show in Atlanta, GA.

ExpireIt: Disposable email fights spam

06/04, 11:25am

ExpireIt: Disposable email fights spam

Digital Crowd has launched ExpireIt, a new service designed to prevent unwanted email. The service, which comes as both a Carbon and Classic client, offers disposable email addresses that can be set to expire by the user at any time. The free version of ExpireIt includes 5 expiring addresses, while additional addresses can be purchased in packages or unlimited addresses for $25 per year.

MaxBulk Mailer 1.7.2: Bulk mailer

06/04, 11:15am

MaxBulk Mailer 1.7.2: Bulk mailer

MaxBulk Mailer 1.7.2 is a new version of the $10 shareware mail-merge and bulk mailer software. The new version adds a New Tag menu and headers to recipients exportation, as well as several improvements and bug fixes.

FragMac accepting FUEL questions

06/04, 11:05am

FragMac accepting FUEL questions

FragMac is currently accepting reader questions for its upcoming interview with Firetoad Software, developer of the Mac OS X/Windows racing game, FUEL. The game is expected to be released in the first half of 2002.

Oratorio 1.0b2: Church presentations

06/04, 11:00am

Oratorio 1.0b2: Church presentations

Saguaro Studios has introduced Oratorio, presentation software designed to present the words of hymns and songs for churches and church musicians. The Carbonized software, currently in public beta testing, allows users to "assemble visuals for a complete service or event within minutes, simply by selecting songs from the library and customizing them for the event." A contest is also underway to create an icon for the application. [Classic: 1.4 MB; Carbon: 878 KB]

JFS 1.4.2: improved CD-ROM compatibility

06/04, 9:55am

JFS 1.4.2: improved CD-ROM compatibility

Thomas Tempelmann's Joliet File System 1.4.2 fixes a problem with playing Video CDs and now mounts certain Hybrid CDs in their preferred HFS format (instead of the limited ISO format). The freeware System Extension provides improved compatibility with certain non-Mac CD-ROMs.

Shareware text editor improves remote editing

06/04, 9:45am

Shareware text editor improves remote editing

Trans Text Software's $15 shareware text editor, Tex-Edit Plus 4.1.2, features improved remote file editing (when used with an FTP client), an option to disable its multiple undo feature, and other bug fixes.

Adreview: Apple's ad spots do a '180'

06/04, 9:45am

Adreview: Apple's ad spots do a '180'

Adreview has posted a commentary piece on how Apple's advertising has gone 180 degrees since "1984".

iBuild 1.02 updates freeware authoring app

06/04, 9:40am

iBuild 1.02 updates freeware authoring app

Acrux Software has released iBuild 1.0.2, a new version of its multimedia authoring application that has minor bug fixes as well as an improved freeware "Lite" version with more functionality. Spricing pricing of $30 ($20 off) on the "Pro" version has been extended through June 30th.

German version of Web content filtering app

06/04, 9:25am

German version of Web content filtering app

A German version of MAKI Enteriprise's $30 Web content filtering software, Kids GoGoGo 2.7 DE, is now available. Demos are available in both English and German.

Unlimited use licenses for film/TV software

06/04, 9:20am

Unlimited use licenses for film/TV software

Creative Planet last week announced Movie Magic Budgeting 5.6 and Movie Magic Scheduling 3.6, its estimation and scheduling breakdown tools for film and television production studios. The new versions will offer a return to "unlimited-use license mode" and enhancements to international features, more advanced print options, user interface adjustments and better overall stability. Each will be sold separately for $700 with a $50 discount for electronic downloads and $350 upgrade price for existing customers (through July 31st).

MacGIMP: open-source image editing app

06/04, 7:20am

MacGIMP: open-source image editing app

Mat Caughron writes about a development update to the open-source graphics application, MacGIMP, now "runs stably and very quickly in the X Windows environment under a variety of attractive windows managers. GIMP is an open-source program which has many of Photoshop's features...Unix and Linux users will also be pleased to note that rootless X is now also quite stable."

Tech: LaCie backup in UK, MS & AOL in talks..

06/04, 7:15am

Tech: LaCie backup in UK, MS & AOL in talks..

Early morning tech news: LaCie has announced its 220GB SuperDLT Drive in the UK, offering backup speeds of 11 MB/sec for £3,400; Following last week's revamped business strategy, ATI today announced it would help manufacture and distribute graphics solutions from Acer-DMS; and Microsoft and AOL are negotiating again on the possible inclusion of AOL's Internet service with the forthcoming Windows XP.

SSH Helper 0.1 manages security keys

06/04, 7:00am

SSH Helper 0.1 manages security keys

Gideon Softworks' Secure Shell Helper 0.1 is designed to manage OpenSSH keys and account access data files, allowing users to add/remove authorized keys, view/export public keys, and generate SSH1 RSA, SSH2 RSA and SSH2 DSA keys.

FontAgent 8.5: font util updated

06/04, 6:50am

FontAgent 8.5: font util updated

Insider Software's font repair and management application, FontAgent 8.5, offers better font handling, improved identification, and better support for Mac OS 9 as well as more stability when testing corrupt fonts. It is a free update to the $70 application. A limited edition that handles up to 250 fonts is available for $30. [FA, FA-CD--2.8MB]

FUNDimensions 3.6 gets word processor

06/04, 6:50am

FUNDimensions 3.6 gets word processor

Frank Martin's FUNDimensions 3.6, a free upgrade to the $1730 fundraising software, adds an integrated word processor and a new read-only mode as well as other enhancements. A demo is available online.

Folding@Home 1.34: help solve protein folding

06/04, 1:40am

Folding@Home 1.34: help solve protein folding

Stanford has released Folding@home 1.34 for OS X, a distributed client application (console mode only) that allows users to help solve "the protein folding problem" by running simulations on their computer and reporting the results to a central database.

New utils allow for themes in OS X

06/04, 1:25am

New utils allow for themes in OS X

Colin Cornaby has posted XMorph Public Preview 1, which allows "theming" in OS X: "I am currently building XMorph's successor, Duality. Unlike XMorph, Duality does not have to be run in Root. I have also built Theme Builder 1.0." [links updated]

Shareware util for storing URLs updated

06/04, 1:25am

Shareware util for storing URLs updated

David Kopec's shareware utility for storing/managing URLs, URL Box 1.5, includes new URL naming features, new icons, interface enhancements, and bug fixes.

New Tricks 1.3: plugin-based word processor

06/04, 1:20am

New Tricks 1.3: plugin-based word processor

New Tricks 1.3 is a new version of its word processing software that adds FTP functions, the ability to download Web pages, and an improved print preview. The $15 shareware offers a plug-in architecture that can extend the application's functions, including the abiity to send e-mail from the program, sort your documents in various ways, apply text formatting to special parts of the document, etc.

Drop Drawers 1.5.5 adds feature to organizer

06/04, 1:20am

Drop Drawers 1.5.5 adds feature to organizer

Sig Software's Drop Drawers 1.5.5, for both Classic and OS X, is described as "a revolutionary user-interface enhancement which provides floating drawers to store text, URLs, aliases, scripts, pictures, sounds, movies and anything else." Version 1.5.5 adds the ability to add a trash can to clip drawers, Tool Tips, and minor new features. Drop Drawers X 1.5.5 also adds support for high resolution icons in clip drawers, can launch automatically after login and is faster and more memory-efficient than earlier OS X versions. [Classic, Carbon]

Launchbar 3.0pr1: quickly access files, URLs

06/04, 1:20am

Launchbar 3.0pr1: quickly access files, URLs

LaunchBar 3.0pr1 is a "smart and powerful tool designed to provide fastest access to thousands of files, web-bookmarks, email-addresses and applications spread over your system within the fraction of a second just by entering a short abbreviation." Version 3.0 offers a new user interface, access from any application via a hot-key, and a variety of default options.

PPC benchmarks: x86 vs Apple hardware

06/04, 1:20am

PPC benchmarks: x86 vs Apple hardware

Jay Carlson's PPC crosscompilation benchmarks offers a comparison between x86 and Apple hardware: "Most published Mac benchmarks want to talk about Photoshop filters, media encoding, and so on.  The Power Mac G4 page says the 733 MHz G4 is up to 57% faster than a 1.5 GHz Pentium 4---with the footnote "*Based on a suite of performance tests using Adobe Photoshop 6.0."  Apple's G4 page talks about supercomputing.  And those are good and useful numbers if that's what you care about doing."