News Archive for 01/06/21

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Apple TIL details OS X 10.0.4 update changes

06/21, 11:05pm

Apple TIL details OS X 10.0.4 update changes

Apple has documented the specific changes in the Mac OS 10.0.4 update which was released earlier today.

Tech: AOL/Time Warner threatens AIM clones

06/21, 8:10pm

Tech: AOL/Time Warner threatens AIM clones

Evening tech news: AOL is pursuing legal threats against more AIM clones as it tries to keep a hold on the clients that access its industry-leading messenging service; iVillage, the women-oriented Web site that recently completed its merger with former rival Women.com, plans to cut nearly half its staff; Toshiba has admitted that it purposely postponed its introduction of new consumer notebooks in the second quarter until the third quarter given the poor climate for PCs; and a top official at the CIA told Congress that despite a major increase in intelligence efforts dedicated to computer security, hackers are developing new tools and techniques faster than it can keep up.

New wargame. Jena & Auerstadt, released

06/21, 7:45pm

New wargame. Jena & Auerstadt, released

By Design, Inc. has released Jena & Auerstadt 1806, a new Napoleonic wargame for the Mac that features the Waterloo Campaign engine but covers the battle between Napolean and the Prussians in the fall of 1807. Features include battalion level conflict, new graphics, skirmishers, all the commanders down to the division level, and more.

WeatherCenter 1.6 adds Caribbean weather

06/21, 7:35pm

WeatherCenter 1.6 adds Caribbean weather

Smashin Software has released WeatherCenter 1.6, a new version of its weather tracking application. Version 1.6 adds an improved city locator, the ability to pre-cache weather images in the background, new keyboard shortcuts, support for the Carribean, and better error protection.

60,000 expected for Macworld New York

06/21, 7:30pm

60,000 expected for Macworld New York

IDG World Expo has announced that it expects more than 60,000 Mac enthusiasts to attend next month's Macworld Conference and Expo at the Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center in New York City. Registration for the event has been steadily increasing since the first week of online registration, and show organizers expect the conference program to show a 25 percent increase in attendance over last summer's event. Overall attendee registration is up 14 percent.

Baldur's Gate Multiplayer Update released

06/21, 7:25pm

Baldur's Gate Multiplayer Update released

Graphic Simulations Corporation has released the long-awaited Baldur's Gate Multiplayer Update 1.0 as an open beta. The update replaces the current Baldur's Gate application and adds support for GameRanger, TCP/IP, and AppleTalk network games to the popular role-playing game.

Blizzard admits mistakes in Diablo II patch

06/21, 6:10pm

Blizzard admits mistakes in Diablo II patch

The Diablo II 1.08 patch, which was released earlier this week, contained some changes that were intended only for the expansion set, according to Blizzard. Those changes include the adjusted levels, hit points, damage, attack rating, defense rating, and experience of monsters in Nightmare and Hell difficulties, the global bonus to Damage Resistance for monsters in Hell difficulty, gold sharing when in a party, and the new calculation for blocking that places an emphasis on dexterity. These unintended changes will be reversed in a server-side patch in the next few days.

The Crystal Method using Macs

06/21, 6:05pm

The Crystal Method using Macs

Ted S. notes that a portion of The Crystal Method's Web site showing the making of its new album, Tweekend, includes photos of a Power Mac G4 and Apple flat-panel Studio Display being used in the production studio. "Add The Crystal Method to the list of celebs who use Macs."

OS X: Apple releases Mac OS X 10.0.4

06/21, 5:15pm

OS X: Apple releases Mac OS X 10.0.4

osx.macnn.com reports on the release of Mac OS X 10.0.4 and a utility for installing the new operating system on unsupported systems.

Apple releases Mac OS X 10.0.4

06/21, 5:00pm

Apple releases Mac OS X 10.0.4

Michael S. notes that Apple has released Mac OS X 10.0.4 via the Software Update control panel. The 10.0.4 Update delivers a significant number of improvements for USB devices including additional external device support for iTunes CD burning, improved battery life for many PowerBook G3 systems, and Classic compatibility improvements. This update also provides the latest security updates to OpenSSH and 'sudo' services and includes support for Apple's newest digital flat-panel, the 17-inch Apple Studio Display. [updated]

NetSmith 1.0: Carbonized HTML editor

06/21, 4:15pm

NetSmith 1.0: Carbonized HTML editor

NetSmith 1.0, a new $22 HTML editor for Classic and Mac OS X, features over 25 inserts, over 40 formatting options, a powerful code editor with indent preservation, syntax coloring, invisible marker support, AppleScript support, HTML entitles, clipping storage, color pallete with websafe and RGB colors, built in preview, preview in browser, upload, export, and other enhancements. [Classic: 718 KB; Carbon: 886 KB]

Eovia releases AMAPI 3D v6.1 update

06/21, 3:55pm

Eovia releases AMAPI 3D v6.1 update

Eovia's AMAPI 3D v6.1 has new Flash and Shockwave 3D Exports to the 3D modeling application that offers NURBS and polyhedral constructions, multiple extrusions and sweepings, Coons and Gordon surfaces, smoothing tools, chamfers and Boolean operations. (The company recently released AMAPI 4.15 as a free download.)

MicroMat TechTool Lite 3.01 has new features

06/21, 3:35pm

MicroMat TechTool Lite 3.01 has new features

TechTool Lite 3.01, an update to MicroMat's popular freeware utility, brings a new interface (in sync with TechTool Pro), a File Lab, several new tests, new support for US versions of system 9.1, and many other enhancements. [link updated 3:30 pm ET]

iNotePad 1.5: Notepad replacement

06/21, 3:05pm

iNotePad 1.5: Notepad replacement

Vincent Jalby's iNotePad 1.5, an alternate to Apple's Notepad, is now available for both Classic and Mac OS X. Version 1.5 also adds a "Padlock" icon to lock notes, automatic backup, encryption of data files, optional BlowFish encryption, drag and drop reordering of notes and folders, improved iPublish, support for multiple data files, support for up to 700 notes, and a new interface. [Classic: 1.1 MB; Carbon: 1.5 MB]

Macintosh Explorer 2.1 adds WebDesign support

06/21, 2:55pm

Macintosh Explorer 2.1 adds WebDesign support

Rage Software has released Macintosh Explorer 2.1, a major upgrade to its $15 file management and browser tool. Version 2.1 adds integration with the new HTML editor, WebDesign.

Keyspan to introduce USB Mini Hub

06/21, 2:45pm

Keyspan to introduce USB Mini Hub

Keyspan plans to introduce its new USB Mini Hub next week at PC Expo in New York City. The USB Hub, which has a footprint of a credit card and measures just 1 cm thick, includes four ports and supports both self- and bus-powered USB devices. The hub is available in both silver and black and will be available in July for $50.

FlowerPowerFlow 1.0.0: iTunes plug-in

06/21, 2:40pm

FlowerPowerFlow 1.0.0: iTunes plug-in

FlowerPowerFlow 1.0.0 is a new visual plug-in for the Classic version of Apple's iTunes. The plug-in draws flying flowers with sixteen presets and up to 128 user presets.

Mactrivia.com launches July 1st

06/21, 2:35pm

Mactrivia.com launches July 1st

Mactrivia.com, the "largest collection of interactive Macintosh-only trivia on the Web," plans to launch on July 1st. The site will feature over 1,000 questions ranging from very easy to extremely hard, and some prizes will be available to win.

Apple discontinuing CD-RW iBook

06/21, 2:25pm

Apple discontinuing CD-RW iBook

Travis H. notes that MacZone representatives are taking only a limited amount of orders (83 as of press time) of the CD-RW iBook, informing customers that Apple plans to discontinue the model in favor of the Combo Drive (CD-RW/DVD-ROM) iBook. Currently, the CD-RW model of the critically-acclaimed portable costs $1600 while the Combo Drive model costs $1800.

PrimeFilm 1800 Silver film scanner unveiled

06/21, 2:15pm

PrimeFilm 1800 Silver film scanner unveiled

Pacific Image Electronics has introduced the PrimeFilm 1800 Silver, a $300 film scanner that converts mounted and un-mounted negative and positive 35mm filmstrips and slides into digital files with quality superior to photos scanned with traditional flatbed technology. The USB-based scanner, compatible with both Mac and Windows, features a 1800 dpi resolution and 36-bit scanning as well as a software bundle that includes SilverFast SE 5.0 and Photoshop LE 5.0.

PowerSchool used in 2,700 schools

06/21, 1:40pm

PowerSchool used in 2,700 schools

Apple-owned PowerSchool, which provides a system that helps parents check their child's grades and progress throughout the school year, is being used in about 2,700 schools, according to the Associated Press. However, the Web-based system is not cheap: $4500 per high school and $5 per student to implement the system, as well as a yearly fee to keep the system in place.

Section 508 provides accessible Web sites

06/21, 1:20pm

Section 508 provides accessible Web sites

Section 508 of the United States Rehabilitation Act goes in effect today, requiring that federal agencies purchase or use electronic and information technology that can be made accessible to government employees with disabilities. The regulations also apply to information citizens encounter on government Web sites. Adobe, as well as many other software companies, have added support and enhancements for the regulations within their publishing software in order to make content more accessible.

Roxio countersues in Gracenote lawsuit

06/21, 1:10pm

Roxio countersues in Gracenote lawsuit

Roxio, makers of the Toast CD burning software, has responded to and countersued Gracenote, Inc. in response to its lawsuit filed on May 10, 2001 alleging that Roxio had infringed upon its patent and its CDDB trademark.

Diablo II: Lord of Destruction goes gold

06/21, 1:00pm

Diablo II: Lord of Destruction goes gold

Blizzard Enterainment has announced that Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, the highly anticipated hybrid (Mac/PC) expansion set to its wildly popular action/role-playing game Diablo II, has reached golden master and will appear on store shelves beginning June 29 for approximately $35. New features in the expansion set include two new character classes—the Assassin and the Druid—a new Act set in the Barbarian Highlands, complete with six new quests including an epic battle with Baal, more than 50 new monster classes, support for 800 x 600 resolution, and a Stash that has been doubled in size. Additionally, the game adds new weapons, armor and magical items, including class-specific, crafted items, Rune Words and Elite Unique items. A retail copy of Diablo II is required to play Lord of Destruction.

aspWrite 1.0 Beta: HTML/ASP text editor

06/21, 12:50pm

aspWrite 1.0 Beta: HTML/ASP text editor

Hiddenfield Software has released aspWrite 1.0 Beta, a text editor targeted at web developers working in Activer Server Pages (ASP), HTML and Javascript. Features include syntax coloring, auto-indent of lines, and pre-process files on open to remove LF characters and convert tabs to spaces.

Asanté unveils $10,000 grant for K-12 school

06/21, 11:50am

Asanté unveils $10,000 grant for K-12 school

Asanté has unveiled its "Network 2 Win" educational grant, which will grant $10,000 to a K-12 school for installing or upgrading its computer network. The upgrade could include upgrading to a wireless network, upgrading the backbone to Gigabit Ethernet, or upgrading libraries and classrooms with fast ethernet switches. Schools that wish to be considered for the grant must submit an application, which are due no later than July 31, 2001. The winner of the grant will be announced on August 15, 2001.

Canon introduces LV-7345 projector

06/21, 11:45am

Canon introduces LV-7345 projector

The Canon LV-7345 projector is a new $4700 multimedia projector featuring brightness up to 2100 ANSI lumens and a small, lightweight design that measures less than a legal size sheet of paper and weighs 7.7 pounds.

Cosmologik releases A60 Rescue Mission

06/21, 11:30am

Cosmologik releases A60 Rescue Mission

Cosmologik has released A60 Rescue Mission, its first game for the Mac. The $25 game lets players take control of a futuristic space craft and must protect the probes for exploration purposes.

SmartDisk announces new USB media readers

06/21, 10:45am

SmartDisk announces new USB media readers

SmartDisk today announced new USB-based flash media readers for CompactFlash, SmartMedia(TM), Memory Stick and Secure Digital (SD)/ MultiMediaCard (MMC) media cards. All four models ($40 ea.) feature a vertically oriented casing, eject connectors, ACDSee 3.1 photo editing and management software, and a detachable USB cable. The SmartDisk SmartMedia Reader, SmartDisk CompactFlash Reader and SmartDisk Memory Stick Reader will be available at the end of July. The SmartDisk Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard Reader will ship in the fourth quarter.

Contact This!: Entourage importer for Mail

06/21, 9:10am

Contact This!: Entourage importer for Mail

Pariahware has released Contact This! 0.0.2b, an Entourage address book importer for MacOS X's Mail. The utility, currently available for free during the beta period, imports all of the contacts and information exported by Entourage and supports editable contacts, mutiple address selection (and drag & drop), and deletion of contacts.

Apple I Owners Club returns online

06/21, 9:10am

Apple I Owners Club returns online

The Apple I Owners Club, founded in 1977 by Joe Torzewski, has returned. It includes the "most extensive reference to the Apple I in existence. The site contains over 120 pages detailing the Apple I computer."

New TrueType font family from Joe Gillespie

06/21, 9:05am

New TrueType font family from Joe Gillespie

Joe Gillespie has updated his MINI 7 v1.2 TrueType font family and released a new individual, sans-serif face with a modern, hi-tech personality.

Smile 1.8: AppleScript editor

06/21, 4:10am

Smile 1.8: AppleScript editor

Smile 1.8 is "both an AppleScript editor for beginners, and an integrated environment for AppleScript developers. [It] is scriptable, attachable (its objects have scripts), recordable, and factored (internally scripted)."

Unsupported Utility X 1.0b8 for OS X install

06/21, 4:00am

Unsupported Utility X 1.0b8 for OS X install

OWC has posted free software that allows OS X to operated on unsupported machine. The Unsupported Utility X 1.0b8 software allows OS X to (conveniently) install on the 7300, 7500, 7600, 8500, 8600, 9500 and 9600, as well the clones that were based on one of these systems (the Umax S900 and J700, and the Power Computing PowerWave and PowerTowerPro).

Sonnet posts OS X software package

06/21, 3:54am

Sonnet posts OS X software package

Sonnet today posted its $30 OS X solution for Crescendo/PCI 1.0 software for its processor upgrades, which "enables your PCI computer upgraded with any Sonnet Crescendo/PCI G3/G4 processor card to use Mac OS X."

Dantz posts driver updates for Retrospect

06/21, 3:45am

Dantz posts driver updates for Retrospect

Dantz has posted Retrospect Driver Update 2.2 (free) and Advanced Driver Kit 1.9 ($150) for Version 4.2 or later of its popular backup utility. The updates are available in English, French, and German.

QuickTimer for recording QT movie time points

06/21, 3:40am

QuickTimer for recording QT movie time points

QuickTimer, a small free utility that can conveniently record times of specific events in QuickTime movies: "[it] is useful for multimedia content creators who want to get specific times of specific clips in a movie without running a commercial package or playing with a physical stopwatch."

Developer talks OS X speed issues

06/21, 3:30am

Developer talks OS X speed issues

Sam Grinter notes an article by Andrew Welch of Ambrosia Software about OS X speed issues: "I believe that Apple understands that OS X's speed is a problem. Steve Jobs stood up at the WWDC (a developer's conference) this year, and stated that speed was the number one complaint and concern about OS X. I think it is fair to say that if Jobs is making a statement like that in public, to Apple's developers, that there's been a fire lit..."

New Springboard presentation module, Mac app

06/21, 3:25am

New Springboard presentation module, Mac app

MARGI Systems has released its new Presenter-to-Go Springboard presentation module along with a Mac version of the Presenter-to-Go PC software.

Snak 4.6.4: IRC client for Classic, OS X

06/21, 3:00am

Snak 4.6.4: IRC client for Classic, OS X

Snak 4.6.4 is an update to Kent Sorensen's IRC client that includes fixes for OS X issues and improves handling of banlist items on IRCNet and other networks. [Classic, Carbon]

Roundup: Apple sued, Gays rate Apple, QTLive!

06/21, 2:10am

Roundup: Apple sued, Gays rate Apple, QTLive!

Yesterday we noted that Apple was sued by Pitney Bowes, Apple scored a perfect rating among gays, QuickTime Live! in October, Olympus' new 4 Megapixel camera, shipment of both VectorWorks LANDMARK and Tomb Raider: Chronicles for Classic and OS X, new carrying cases for the iBook and TiPB, and EZQues's new 24x10x40x FireWire CDRW. Other software reports included DiamondSoft's Font Reserve Server 1.01, QuarkWrapture 1.5 packaging software, and Iomega's Quik Copy Floppy 1.0.