Knowledge Adventure releases kids' titles

Knowledge Adventure has released three new $20 hybrid (Mac/PC) educational CD-ROMs for children:

• Math Blaster: Cross Terrain Challenge, designed for kids ages 9-12, helps strengthen critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
• JumpStart Languages, designed for kids ages 3-6, helps build a foundation for language development by introducing children to the sights, sounds, words, and phrases of four languages: Spanish, French, Japanese, and English.
• JumpStart Explorers, designed for kids ages 5-8, exposes kids to important historical events and immerses them in the time period and environment.

Pitney Bowes sues Apple

Pitney Bowes has filed suit against 8 different companies, including Apple, alleging patent infringement regarding a technology that allows printers to change the size of dots on paper. Pitney Bowes alleges that Apple infringed on its patent with the LaserWriter line of printers. The company recently settled for $400 million with HP over a similar matter.

24U Paste without style 1.0.1 released

24U Paste without style 1.0.1 is a new version of the Xtension for QuarkXPress that eases and accelerates the process of moving text. Version 1.0.1 adds the pasting of text in an empty frame and an improved "undo" function. [form]

Report Magic 2.10: Add-on for Analog 5

Report Magic 2.10 is a new version of the add-on for Analog, the logfile analysis program, that creates reports from the analysis of your logfiles. Version 2.10 provides full compatibility with Analog 5, a new setting to control frame set border width, Portuguese language files, and more.

Lehman Brothers analyst likes Apple

ON24 has posted an audio interview with Lehman Brothers Analyst Dan Niles, who recommends that "investors should stay in cash," but he does like Apple.

VueScan 7.1.1: Film scanning utility

Hamrick Software's VueScan 7.1.1, a new version of its $40 film scanner for Classic and Mac OS X that offers batch processing, automatic color-balancing, and cropping, adds support for calibration on Microtek scanners and fixes for problems with infrared cleaning and writing a log file on Mac OS X.

MacSSH 2.1b9: SSH2 client

Jean-Pierre Stierlin's MacSSH 2.1b9 adds a show/hide log option, a print screen option, and several bug fixes to the developmental (freeware) SSH2 client built on BetterTelnet's codebase.

Escape from Monkey Island 1.1.2 released

Escape from Monkey Island 1.1.2 is a maintenance release of the 3D adventure game for the Mac. The update requires version 1.1.1 of the game.

Neverwinter Nights named best RPG of E3

BioWare has been awarded the Best Roleplay Game (RPG) Award from The 2001 Best of E3 Game Critics for its upcoming 3D role-playing game, Neverwinter Nights, which will be released later this year for Classic and Mac OS X in addition to Windows, Linux, and BeOS. Additionally, the company was ranked eleventh on the Profit 100 list as one of Canada's fastest growing companies.

WebEvent comes to Mac OS X

WebEvent has announced Mac OS X compatibility for its suite of Web-based calendaring and scheduling applications. "The Mac environment is well represented in several of our key markets, including education and small- to medium-sized enterprises," said the company's CEO.

Sony to launch ScreenBlast

Sony is planning the launch of a new broadband entertainment service it calls ScreenBlast, which will utilize elements of Apple's Final Cut Pro software to replicate a movie studio or music recording studio on the Web. The Web site will launch in the Fall, and offer a $170 suite of editing tools for use in conjunction with the service.

MacHack conference kicks off

The infamous MacHack conference kicks off at 12:01 AM on June 21, 2001, and continues virtually without interruption until midnight on June 23. The live coding session, in its sixteenth year, costs $525 for regular attendees, $50 for students. MacHack takes place at the Holiday Inn in Dearborn, MI.

New version of MacApp

Apple has released a new version of MacApp, the development tool that was used to create applications like Photoshop. New features in MacApp Release 15 include support for building with Project Builder, a new framework of helper classes for Mac OS X's Core Foundation, and updates to a variety of Toolbox suites in ACS.

Ethernet cradle for Handspring

Portsmith has announced a Ethernet Cradle solution designed for the Handspring Visor, Visor Deluxe, and Visor Platinum models. It sports 10BaseT interface with an LED indicator for activity and status. The device will become available in July, 2001, and be demonstrated at the PC Expo in New York City, June 26-28.

Grammarian 2.0bx released for OS X

Casady & Greene has posted an OS X native, public beta version of Grammarian 2.0b, which brings the ability to lock and unlock the Writing Rules settings for phrase usage, grammar mechanics, punctuation and writing style to its popular universal grammar checker. It also offers the ability to share common configuration settings for a classroom-style computer lab.

HID Manager samples for OS X developers

Apple Worldwide Developer Relations has released three new HID Manager samples for developers to use in building Mac OS X applications that need access to input devices, including joysticks, gamepads, and wheels. The samples include HID Utilities Source, HID Config Save, and HID Explorer. The samples should aid developers in adding input device support to games and other applications in the new operating system.

Lucas Learning cancels Super Bombad Racing

Lucas Learning has announced that it has ceased production on Star Wars Super Bombad Racing for the Mac and PC, a kart racing game featuring big-headed Star Wars characters that was released for the Playstation 2 earlier this year. The decision reflects the company's new focus on developing direct-to-school educational products.

Iomega Quik Copy Floppy 1.0 released

Iomega Quik Floppy Copy 1.0 is a free utility for quickly and easily copying data from floppy disks to Zip disks. [form]

ASM 1.3: Application switcher menu for OS X

ASM 1.3 is a new version of the application switcher menu for Mac OS X. Version 1.3 adds the ability to set 'single application mode' for each application individually, the ability to set whether a certain application appears in the menu and/or hides automatically, and a fix for the never-ending switching bug.

New carrying cases for iBook, PowerBook G4

Kusuma Enterprises has introduced new carrying cases for the Dual USB iBook and PowerBook G4. The products include a MacCase Sleeve, MacCase Binder, and MacCase for both the iBook and PowerBook G4 as well as a MacPack that carries both laptops together. Online pricing will be available on July 15th.

Architosh: National CAD standards

Architosh reports on Apple's absence at the AEC Systems show and ArchiCAD's plans to implement national CAD standards.

MacDesktops: Bear (Still Life Photos), ...

Over the past week, MacDesktops has posted 14 new desktop pictures, including Bear (Still Life Photos), NYC from Empire State (Landscapes - Urban), and Pismo (Logos, Apple).

Age of Empires II, Links 2002 release dates

Destineer's Mac label, Bold, has announced that Age of Empires II: Age of Kings for the Mac will be released in early October, while Links 2002 for the Mac will be released in late October. Age of Empires II is being ported by Westlake Interactive—whose recent credits include Escape from Monkey Island, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, and Tomb Raider: Chronicles—and Links 2002 is being ported by Green Dragon Creations, which ported Links 2000 to the Mac last year.

Attachment Glue 2.0: Email attach reminder

Thought Foundry has released Attachment Glue 2.0, a Eudora plug-in that tries to ensure that an email intended to have a file attached has the attachment included before it is sent. This is done by searching for common phrases in an e-mail referring to an attachment, such as "attach" or "file," and showing a reminder dialogue to attach the attachment if it is not attached when the user presses send. The company is working on a version of the plug-in for Outlook Express and Mac OS X.

QuickTime Live! 2001 scheduled for October

Apple has announced QuickTime Live! 2001, its annual conference covering QuickTime media and related technologies that will be held October 8-11 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Additional information on the conference will be forthcoming as the event nears.

Real unveils XMCL for digital rights online

RealNetworks has introduced its proposed language for managing digital content rights online, eXtensible Media Commerce Language, or XMCL, which would allow creators and distributors of media such as music and movies to manage and control use of copyrighted works distributed online. The language, which is already being backed by tech giants such as IBM and Sun Microsystems, will be submitted to an Internet standards body later this year. Real plans to make the system work on the Mac, Linux, television set-top boxes and Sony's Playstation 2 later this year.

Judge rules mistrial in MP3.com case

In a case brought against MP3.com by TVT Records, the judge has ruled a mistrial after it was discovered that jurors omitted a zero during their math for damages and mistakenly awarded damages of $300,000, while jurors intended to award damages of $2 to $3 million. MP3.com originally hailed the ruling as a victory, because TVT was seeking damages of $8.5 million for the illegal copying of 145 of its copyrighted works.

Color options for iBook screen protector

After introducing its iBook screen protector last week, JR Hill & Co. is now shipping the iBook screen protector and PowerBook G4 screen protector in a variety of colors, including black, blue, green, and red. The $12.50 full grain leather protectors are designed to be "placed over the keyboard to protect the screen from keyboard dirt and scratches." The $12.50 protectors are available in custom sizes with custom embossing. [updated]

Tomb Raider: Chronicles brings level editor

Aspyr Media has announced the release of Tomb Raider: Chronicles for Classic and Mac OS X, the latest edition in the action-adventure series starring Lara Croft. New moves have been added in the $40 game, including tightrope walking, parallel bar swinging, and a hand-to-hand stealth attack. The game also adds new weapons, such as a grappling hook gun, sniper rifle, and chloroform, as well as a new 'search' option enabling Lara to look through files and drawers for useful items. Tomb Raider: Chronicles is also the first in the series to include a level editor that allows players to create their own Tomb Raider levels.

Diablo II 1.08: Major alterations arrive

Blizzard Entertainment has released Diablo II 1.08, a new version of its wildly popular action/role-playing game for the Mac and PC. The new version adds the improvements, fixes, modifications, and tweaks that have been added to Diablo II in the Diablo II Expansion Pack—Diablo II: Lord of Destruction—which is expected to be released this summer. Among the changes are skill balance modifications, gambling prices based on the character level, inability to gamble for sets and uniques, mana and life steal effects reduced by half in Nightmare and Hell, increased the amount of gold a character can hold in the Stash, and more.

Nemetschek ships VectorWorks LANDMARK

Nemetschek North America is now shipping VectorWorks LANDMARK, its CAD application for landscape and site design industries. It combines drafting and modeling tools with site design and planting management tools to create, analyze and present site and landscape designs as well as document an existing site, modify and sculpt new terrain, create planting and irrigation layouts and visualize in 3D.

Apple scores perfect rating among gays

Apple was among the companies to receive a perfect 10 rating in the seventh annual "Gay and Lesbian Value Report of Best and Worst Companies," which was released Tuesday by glvReports. The report evaluates each of the companies on 10 criteria, including a written sexual orientation nondiscrimination policy, same-sex domestic partner health care benefit coverage, and no support or majority stockholder ties to antigay groups. The companies with the worst scores include ExxonMobil, Wal-Mart Stores, and Hallmark Cards.

Wayport to offer wireless access in hotels

Wayport is extending its high-speed Internet services for business travelers by offering hotels the option of providing in-room/on-property wireless Internet access via 802.11b (AirPort). Wayport also say it offer hotels the option of providing wireless PC cards or USB-to-wireless adaptors for check out at a hotel's front desk. The new Wayport all-wireless service will be available for hotel installation within 90 days.

Olympus CAMEDIA C-4040 ZOOM: 4 Megapixels

Olympus today announced the CAMEDIA C-4040 ZOOM, its first 4 Megapixel digital camera with a 3X/7.5X digital/optical zoom, the ability to enlarge images up to 3200 x 2400 pixels, USB connectivity, and QuickTime movie mode. It is due in August for $1100 and ships with an 16MB SmartMedia card, USB cable, AV cable, two 3V lithium battery packs (CR-3V), lens cap and retainer cord, and remote control.

Belkin introduces new N30 GameMouse

Belkin today introduced the N30 GameMouse designed for "fast-action, shooter-type games that require a high level of control." It includes Immersion TouchSense technology that transforms digital information into physical sensations as well as a distinctive, black, molded, "spaceship-like" surface that improves grip and minimizes accidental button-pushes. It is due in August for $40.

School management software for OS X, Classic

Chancery Software has released Mac School for Mac OS X, a key component of Chancery's student management applications for managing K-12 student information at the district, school, classroom and community levels. The Mac School updates will be available during the 2001-2002 school year to meet the needs of all customers using Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X.

Sonnet updates Encore G4 X driver for OS X

Sonnet's Encore G4 X v1.01 utility for users of its Sonnet Encore/ZIF G4 upgrades, adds improves support for Startup Disk Control Panel 9.2.1: "Users who have successfully run Encore G4 X install version 1.0 do not need this update; there is no improvement in functionality."

Mesa 3 spreadsheet for OS X now available

Mesa 3, described as the "best-selling NeXTSTEP/OpenStep spreadsheet, is a new version of the Cocoa-based spreadsheet billed as an alternative to Excel. The $130 spreadsheet is available as a $50 upgrade and for $50 to educational users. A demo is avaialable online.

Movie2MPEG 0.1d6 converts QT to MPEG1

Movie2MPEG 0.1d6, now available as a Carbon application, is a utility that converts QuickTime movies or AVI files to the MPEG1 file format. The latest version offers AltiVec enhancements, overall speed improvements, and support for opening DV streams.

PHP 4.05 binary, tools for OS X posted

PHP4X includes PHP 4.0.5 binary with precompiled XML-, MySQL-, zLib-, Sockets- and Session-support; the download also offers a PHP Admin Tool to configure PHP4 Settings with a Cocoa-based GUI as well as a pre-configured version of phpMyAdmin 2.1 to access and administrate MySQL-Databases via a web interface.

REALbasic 3.5a2: alpha of developer util

REALbasic 3.5a2, an "honest-to-goodness alpha" release of the BASIC programming environment, offers native support for manipulating 3D objects, creating/modifying Microsoft Office documents, and preliminary support for Regular Expressions. [Classic, Carbon]

Patent Grabber 1.0 downloads US patents

Patent Grabber 1.0 is a $20 shareware utility that "automates the process of downloading U.S. patents from free public patent archives."

Shareware FTP servers updated

Ben Spink's $20 shareware Java FTP server, CrushFTP 2.2.0, fixes a long standing bug with OS X which wouldn't let you setup user accounts; CrushFTP 3.0b6 adds IP discovery for users behind a NAT router, fixes bugs which prevented directory listings under MacOS X, and adds the ability to setup file type/creators for various dot three extensions (PC Files).

CoolCam 1.91: shareware webcam app

Evological has released CoolCam 1.9.1, an update to its $20 shareware webcam application for Classic and OS X that fixes a problem where CoolCam would not upload to FTP servers with long welcome messages.

QuarkWrapture 1.5: packaging design software...

Quark yesterday released QuarkWrapture 1.5, an upgrade to its packaging software with new support for "bottles and cans," Flash/TIFF export, and larger page sizes and other visualization features.

EZQuest ships new 24x10x40x FireWire CDRW

EZQuest is now shipping its new Boa 24x10x40 FireWire CD-R/W with Burn Proof protection. The drive ships with a 2MB buffer in a ICE-colored Pro-Mar enclosure for $370 and includes Toast 5.0, EZ Start-up kit, one blank CDR, a blank CD-R/W and a 6-foot FireWire cable.

America Online posts new AOL for OS X beta

America Online has posted AOL for Mac OS X 6C includes the latest Flash plugin, fully support drag & drop for images, and has other fixes and enhancements. It is only available to AOL users via keyword 'BETA'.

America Online posts new AOL for OS X beta

America Online has posted AOL for Mac OS X 6C includes the latest Flash plugin, fully support drag & drop for images, and has other fixes and enhancements. It is only available to AOL users via keyword 'BETA'.

MuchoFileInfo 1.2: freeware file/folder util

MuchoFileInfo 1.2 brings improvements and bug fixes to the freeware utility that can modify any files' creator and type, rename them or change file's finder flags. [Classic, Carbon: ~825KB]

DiamondSoft Font Reserve Server 1.01...

DiamondSoft has released Font Reserve Server 1.01, an update to its client/server font-management system that brings automatic backups for system configuration and font databases as well as the ability to work while disconnected from the server.

Roundup: Extensis releases Suitcase 10

Yesterday Extensis announced the release of Suitcase 10 and promised an OS X version later this year. Other reports included PhotoWebber 2 and PhotoCaster 3, Alsoft's return from a flood, extras in Mac Tropico, EarthLink's fixed-IP address DSL, reduced pricing on the Archos Jukebox 6000 MP3 Player, a large Apple retail store in Chicago, and the discontinuation of Minitab. Software releases included Opera TP1 for OS X, Quake III: Arena 1.29f for OS X, and Virtual Conferencing Tool 3.0.