News Archive for 01/07/03

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Macintosh Manager 2.0.2 update

07/03, 10:35pm

Macintosh Manager 2.0.2 update

Macintosh Manager 2.0.2 Update, an extensive update to Apple's workstation management technology that provides numerous bug fixes. The update is available for Mac OS 8/9 and Mac OS X Server 10.0.4.

Apple focuses on OS X security

07/03, 9:35pm

Apple focuses on OS X security

A c|net article on OS X security, notes that the company has formed a team to combat security vulnerabilities in the new BSD-based operating system in response to increased awareness among users concerning potential security exploits.

MacDICT 2.01: access to online databases

07/03, 9:30pm

MacDICT 2.01: access to online databases

Bains Software has released MacDICT 2.0.1, which "lets you access a growing number of databases, including Websters Dictionary, for free! Other databases include the US Gazetter, Free Online Dictionary of Computing, WordNet, Jargon File, and the CIA World Factbook."

Fink 0.2.2: manages open-source app installs

07/03, 9:30pm

Fink 0.2.2: manages open-source app installs

Fink 0.2.2 is an attempt to bring the full world of Unix Open Source software to Darwin and Mac OS X. Packages are downloaded and built automatically and installed into a tree managed by dpkg.

Apple posts OS X 10.04 Server update

07/03, 7:20pm

Apple posts OS X 10.04 Server update

Apple has posted OS X 10.0.4 Server Update, which it says "delivers reliability improvements for Apple File Protocol connections, printer sharing, FTP, mail and directory services. It includes MySQL and security updates to Samba. This update also improves migration and administration of users and groups, home directory settings and Macintosh Manager accounts." It is also availale via the Software Update, but requires that the OS X 10.0.4 Update be previously installed.

OS X: OS X 10.04 Server, Mac Oracle client

07/03, 7:20pm

OS X: OS X 10.04 Server, Mac Oracle client

osx.macnn.com continues its daily updates with news of Apple's OS X 10.04 Server update, a forthcoming Mac client for Oracle 9i databases, shipment of MacGIMP photo-editing software, native versions of ArKaos' audio products, and Picture Play 1.1 photo collage software. [updated 7:20 pm ET]

Snard 0.4.5 and Get Info 0.3.7: utils for OSX

07/03, 6:00pm

Snard 0.4.5 and Get Info 0.3.7: utils for OSX

Gideon Softworks has released Snard 0.4.5, an update to its $10 shareware Dock-based launcher that removes warnings and the preferences menu. It has also released Get Info 0.3.7, a more compact version of its $10 shareware utility that allows you to change the owner, group and permissions as well as type/creator for any file. [Snard: 489KB, Get Info: 900KB]

Script Timer 1.1X: AppleScript scheduler

07/03, 5:40pm

Script Timer 1.1X: AppleScript scheduler

Script Timer 1.1X is a native utility that lets you schedule the execution of OSA based scripts, such as those created using AppleScript.

Switch from PC to Mac chronicled online

07/03, 4:40pm

Switch from PC to Mac chronicled online

Joshua Rafofsky writes about a "very interesting diary" of Paul McAleer, who has detailed his switch from PC to Mac." [updated]

AOL for OS X 10A fixes modem dialing issue

07/03, 4:30pm

AOL for OS X 10A fixes modem dialing issue

The Mac Beta Team for AOL has released a new build of client software, AOL for OS X 10A, which "specifically addresses modem dial-up connectivity issues that existed in the AOL for Mac OS X 6C and 7B software.,,,[it] should also help those who constantly get the 'Unable to establish a full connection...' error message when connecting to the AOL service via TCP/IP." It is available via "Keyword: Beta" to America Online users.

GeForce Graphics 2.1.1 update from Apple

07/03, 4:30pm

GeForce Graphics 2.1.1 update from Apple

Apple has posted its GeForce Graphics 2.1.1 update, which "installs new graphics card firmware and Mac OS 9 system extensions to improve performance and compatibility. The new firmware also fixes a compatibility problem with newer versions of the NVIDIA system extensions." [no longer available]

pro Fit 5.6b7: scientific analysis tool

07/03, 4:20pm

pro Fit 5.6b7: scientific analysis tool

QuantumSoft has released pro Fit 5.6.0b7, another prerelease version of its tool for scientific data and mathematical function analysis. Version B7 provides better compatibility with OS X, various minor feature improvements and bug fixes.

VueScan 7.1.5 enhances scanning features

07/03, 3:30pm

VueScan 7.1.5 enhances scanning features

Hamrick Software has released VueScan 7.1.5, its scanner utility for batch processing, color balancing, and cropping, for Mac OS 8/9 and OS X. This release adds support for numerous scanner features as well as fixing a timeout bug on the HP 5370C.

MegaSeg 2.01 has new reports, bug fixes

07/03, 2:20pm

MegaSeg 2.01 has new reports, bug fixes

Fidelity Media's MegaSeg 2.01 DJ software adds a recently played songs report, as well as bug fixes and other interface improvements. An updated demo is available on the company's Website.

Apple suspends Cube production indefinitely

07/03, 1:55pm

Apple suspends Cube production indefinitely

Apple today announced that it will suspend production of the G4 Cube indefinitely, saying that there "is a small chance it will reintroduce an upgraded model of the unique computer in the future, but that there are no plans to do so at this time." Apple VP Phil Schiller said that "Cube owners love their Cubes, but most customers decided to buy our powerful Power Mac G4 minitowers instead."

QiPro 1.1 adds HTML creation, time stamps

07/03, 1:55pm

QiPro 1.1 adds HTML creation, time stamps

QiPro 1.1 adds options dynamically create HTML files, include the time with each frame capture, and other bug fixes to the $8 utility for creating previews of QuickTime movies.

Fizilla: development of OS X native Mozilla

07/03, 1:20pm

Fizilla: development of OS X native Mozilla

Fizilla, the OS X port of Netscape's open-source Mozilla browser project, has posted a new version based on the latest Mozilla 0.92 release: "This is from the MOZILLA_0_9_2_BRANCH branch and is the basis for the Netscape beta for OSX. Until we get daily builds, please help us pound on this branch since it's what you will see with the Netscape logo. Note: there is still no https in this build (though there is in 092 release) because for some reason I still can't build it. That will be fixed soon, I hope."

Compositor 1.91: image/photo composition

07/03, 1:15pm

Compositor 1.91: image/photo composition

Robert Covington's Compositor 1.9 is a $20 Mac-only application that "allows you to Pre-Visualize an image or photo composition and to create whole new visions from a base image. [It] has over 125 Filter and Channel coloration effects built in." A fully functional 35-day demo is available.

CreativePage 2.7: Web page authoring for OS X

07/03, 1:10pm

CreativePage 2.7: Web page authoring for OS X

PineHill's $25 Web page creation tool, CreativePage 2.7, brings a native Carbon application, five new HTML assistants, an "easy-access" toolbar, support for preview in different browsers, more text formatting options, and built-in FTP functions.

O'Reilly column looks at 'Strings in Cocoa

07/03, 12:55pm

O'Reilly column looks at 'Strings in Cocoa

O'Reilly Network's Cocoa columnist Mike Beam takes a look at the two classes that make up the majority of Cocoa's string-handling ability, and includes a peek at various ways to create strings.

PocketNotes 1.0b1: outlining and planning

07/03, 12:45pm

PocketNotes 1.0b1: outlining and planning

A beta version of PocketNotes 1.0b has been released. The flexible $20 notepad application for outlining and planning supports multiple fonts, text colors and images, prioritization by item, multiple outlines per notepad, multiple notepads, item reminders, searchable text, and password security measures.

YP Vernier 1.1: learn to use vernier scale

07/03, 12:35pm

YP Vernier 1.1: learn to use vernier scale

Yves Pelletier has released YP Vernier 1.1, a $15 educational program showing how to use a vernier scale to measure length with great precision. Version 1.1 provides two additional ways to slide the movable jaw: in addition to the scroll bar, you can now use the arrow keys of the keyboard, or grab the caliper with the mouse pointer.

Xicons: six new icons sets for OS X

07/03, 11:25am

Xicons: six new icons sets for OS X

Over the past week Xicons has posted 6 new icon sets for OS X: MM Trash (trash), Transparent Fun (misc.), MM Yellow (folders), Where The Wild Things Are (misc.), H.C.4.L (misc.), and MM Documents (documents). Xicons posts new sets daily and is made possible by visitor submissions.

Roundup: Sorenson Video 3, AppleWorks update

07/03, 10:55am

Roundup: Sorenson Video 3, AppleWorks update

Sorenson Media yesterday announced the release of Sorenson Video 3 for QuickTime. Other important notes included Apple's release of AppleWorks 6.1.2/6.2, suspension of Napster, Apple's survey of OS X developers,and reduced Epson printer pricing. Software updates included REALVIZ Stitcher 3.0, MonacoEZcolor 2.0, CE Software's QuickConference 1.6, and PageSpinner3.1fc1.

Interactive Mac-based cartoon

07/03, 10:55am

Interactive Mac-based cartoon

MacLib is an interactive Macintosh-themed cartoon in which viewers can submit their own captions and vote for their favorite punchlines. The cartoons are illustrated by Bill Alger, known for his work with DC's Big Book of Freaks and Big Book of the '70s, in addition to his current work with DC Comics' Cartoon Network line of books.

Seven new free fonts by Fontosaurus Text

07/03, 10:50am

Seven new free fonts by Fontosaurus Text

Fontosaurus Text has posted seven new freely-downloadable fonts, including 1978NYC, Erg, Exclaim!, Grackle, Mashed Potatoes, Moonbase, and Scumbucket.

Akua Sweets 1.4.2: free scripting additions

07/03, 10:50am

Akua Sweets 1.4.2: free scripting additions

Akua Sweets v1.42 is a new version of the freeware "set of over 200 Scripting Additions that enhance AppleScript by providing functions not normally available in the language." Version 1.5 will be "PPC native, possibly support MacOS X (if I can figure it out by then) and will become uncrippled shareware."

ArKaos working on OS X native versions

07/03, 10:40am

ArKaos working on OS X native versions

ArKaos says it is working on native OS X versions of its audio products: "Indeed the work is already well-advanced. We just have problems with the MIDI layer of Mac OS X. Sorry we can't commit to any time frame because we rely on external help for development (MIDI drivers, apple documentation ...)"

ON24: "New offerings won't drive Apple"

07/03, 10:40am

ON24: "New offerings won't drive Apple"

A new audio report at ON24 financial i-network says that "New offerings won't drive Apple." [requires RealPlayer]

MacGIMP: open-source image editing for OS X

07/03, 10:30am

MacGIMP: open-source image editing for OS X

MacGIMP, the OS X port of the open-source image editing application, is now shipping on CD for $25: "The CD contains an installer which enables both XFree86 (in rootless mode, so windows run alongside MacOS X windows) and everything needed to run GIMP without any command line hassle." The pre-release price of $20 will be honored until the end of the day. (There is an open invitation for Photoshop Pros to try out MacGIMP.)

Apple Germany: rebate for laptop trade-in

07/03, 10:15am

Apple Germany: rebate for laptop trade-in

Apple Germany today introduced a "Trade-In" program which gives a DM 1.000,-- refund (~$500) on any G4 PowerBook for users willing to trade-in "any portable/desktop computer," according to German Mac site Macnews.de. The Website notes that qualified computers can be a Mac or a Wintel machine, but must be in working condition: "As far as I know this program is limited to Germany and seems to be something like a pilot project." Roland Riepel also notes that Apple is running a free VST CD-RW promo with the purchase of a PowerBook G4, similar to the one in the US, through July 31st in all of Europe. Both promotions can be combined, according to one reader. [updated]

eKiosk 2.0: manage machines in public places

07/03, 10:15am

eKiosk 2.0: manage machines in public places

eKiosk 2.0 is a $100 application (works with Internet Explorer), which is designed to manage internet and email services in public spaces. Version 2.0 adds an email kiosk sending service, new functions for internet kiosks, a customizable startup screen, new functions to manage security, and speech-enabling technologies via speech manager.

DR-Verb 1.1.3: shareware VST plugin optimized

07/03, 10:10am

DR-Verb 1.1.3: shareware VST plugin optimized

Dragan Petrovic has released DR-Verb 1.13, an update to his $40 shareware VST plug-in which delivers complex reverb simulations. Version 1.1.3 has been optimized to up to 25% of the CPU resources.

Plugin Galaxy: new AE effects

07/03, 9:15am

Plugin Galaxy: new AE effects

Plugin Galaxy is a $100 collection of 20 After Effects plugins containing 129 different animatable video effects that can be used with After Effects 4/5, Premiere 6, Final Cut Pro and Commotion 3. Effects include transparency manipulation, blurring, texture and pattern generation, noise creation, mirroring and warping.

Hostal 1.1.1 adds support for OS X 10.04

07/03, 7:45am

Hostal 1.1.1 adds support for OS X 10.04

Hostal 1.1.1, a small utility that allows local IP address mapping by creating a Hosts file for your computer and also allows content filtering by blocking designated hosts, adds support for OS X 10.0.4.

Proteron posts OS X interface util survey

07/03, 7:40am

Proteron posts OS X interface util survey

Proteron is soliciting feedback for development of an interface-enhancement product for OS X ("suggestions on how to improve the Mac OS X dock"), including the possibility of bringing GoMac to OS X.

Nokia Contact Sender 1.2 gets new features

07/03, 7:40am

Nokia Contact Sender 1.2 gets new features

Nokia Contact Sender 1.2, for transferring names and phone numbrs to your Nokia mobile phone, brings interface and reliability improvements, email field support, batch sending, support for external mailers (Eudora, Outlook Express, Entourage, etc.) and import routines for Palm Desktop 2.6.3 and Now Contact 3.9.2.

CHROMiX announces rebate program

07/03, 7:30am

CHROMiX announces rebate program

CHROMiX has announced a rebate program for the X-Rite ColorTron, offering $200 cash back on an old ColorTron with the purchase of GretagMacbeth's suite of Eye-One products. The offer is good through August 31st.

LaCie ships FireWire 24x/10x/40x CD-RW

07/03, 7:30am

LaCie ships FireWire 24x/10x/40x CD-RW

LaCie is now shipping its exernal, FireWire-based 24x/10x/40x CD-RW with Burn-Proof technology, according to Macworld UK. The £249 drive has a 2MB buffer and burns at speads of 1.5MB/sec. It includes all cables, manuals, blank 10x and 16x media, Roxio Toast 5 and a 1 year warranty.

Make photo collages with Picture Play 1.1

07/03, 7:20am

Make photo collages with Picture Play 1.1

Picture Play 1.1 brings a toolbar, improves the 'Undo' function, and has other enhancements to the OS X application for creating compositions of many images; "It is basically an electronic collage. You can use it to incorporate multiple photos or pictures into a single artistic image."

NetSmith 1.2 adds features to HTML editor

07/03, 7:20am

NetSmith 1.2 adds features to HTML editor

Split Software's NetSmith 1.2 adds insertion commands for several more HTML tags to the $22 HTML editor with support for indent preservation, syntax coloring, invisible markers, AppleScript, HTML entitles, clipping storage, websafe and RGB colors, and built-in preview. [Classic, Carbon]

AppleWorks 6.1.2/6.2: International, Japanese

07/03, 7:10am

AppleWorks 6.1.2/6.2: International, Japanese

After releasing the North American English version of the AppleWorks 6.1.2/6.2 update late yesterday, Neil Green notes that an International English version of the AW 6.1.2/6.2 is also available. However, Robert Hancock says that the Japanese localization is several versions behind:

"The Japanese version of AppleWorks is presently 6.04. It has been at this level since mid 2000 (last year!). It has been carbonized and runs under OS X but CRASHES EVERY TIME any attempt is made to input Japanese. Apple Japan has known about this for at least 4 months since March 24 but has not made any attempt to issue a patch or the Japanese upddate to 6.12. Now Apple USA has announced 6.2 for OS X, I called Apple Japan to ask when they would be bringing out 6.2J and the answer is that they have no plans and no date. ... Japan is Apple's second largest market."

Nokia Card Phone 2.0 v1.1 supports OS 9.1

07/03, 7:05am

Nokia Card Phone 2.0 v1.1 supports OS 9.1

The Apple Macintosh UI Software for the Nokia Card Phone 2.0 v1.1 has been released, adding support for OS 9.1 to the driver software for European PowerBook users, according to Erik Steenberger.

AFP Bridge 1.1.1 fixes OS 9.1 errors

07/03, 2:30am

AFP Bridge 1.1.1 fixes OS 9.1 errors

AFP Bridge 1.1.1 (AFPBridge.sit) fixes a few outstanding OS 9.1 issues in the utility that allows you to use usernames, passwords, and volumes with the an afp-protocol URL (afp://John:password@dante.sdsu.edu/Inferno).

Automatic Composition comes to Xpress DV

07/03, 1:25am

Automatic Composition comes to Xpress DV

Automatic Duck Inc's Automatic Composition Import software is now available for Avid Xpress DV on the Macintosh platform. The Adobe After Effects 5.0 plug-in simplifies the process for importing media from Avid nonlinear editing system. The tool is priced at $275 for download and $290 for CD.

Metricom files for bankruptcy

07/03, 1:25am

Metricom files for bankruptcy

Metricom has filed for bankruptcy protection after the Mac-friendly wireless Internet access provider disclosed that it would need $500 million to sustain operations. The current 41,000 Metricom users will still have access to the service for an indefinite time period. The company has failed to turn a profit since its inception.

Oracle to embrace Mac OS X

07/03, 1:20am

Oracle to embrace Mac OS X

Oracle, led by Steve Jobs' long-time friend Larry Ellison, has announced that it will develop a Mac OS X client version of its Oracle 9i database software. An early, unsupported release will become available in the third quarter of this year.

Possibility Apple PDA discussed

07/03, 1:20am

Possibility Apple PDA discussed

An OSOpinion article entitled "The Apple PDA - Cheese Looking for a Mouse" discusses the history of Apple's Newton, and the possibility for a new personal digital assistant on the company's horizon. Author Matt Johnson says "Apple is still an ideal source for the next revolutionary PDA."

EasyMP3: consumer audio product due in July

07/03, 12:35am

EasyMP3: consumer audio product due in July

Proteron today announced Mac version of EasyMP3, a new Carbonized suite of audio compression algorithms for MP3 and MP2 conversion. EasyMP3 will include the open-source LAME encoder, Proteron's proprietary, AltiVec-enabled MPegger engine, and Ogg Vorbis as well as support for real-time recording into WAV and AIFF formats and integration with Panic's Audion, Unsanity's Echo and Apple's iTunes. The $25 application is expected to ship later this month.