News Archive for 01/07/09

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iMac supplies dwindle

07/09, 10:30pm

iMac supplies dwindle

Echoing reports published here and elsewhere on the Web, c|net reports that "supplies of Apple Computer's iMacs are dwindling at resellers and distributors, a sign that changes could be in store for the company's venerable all-in-one computer."

Onadime Composer 1.4: Mixing visuals, sound

07/09, 8:10pm

Onadime Composer 1.4: Mixing visuals, sound

Onadime Composer 1.4 is a $200 creative toolkit for the Mac that links sound, visuals, and movement using real-time programming. The application lets users create music visuals, video effects, live performances, real-time digital art, and multimedia. Onadime Composer has been used by MTV, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies, and the Experience Music Project in Seattle. A demo is also available.

NextForce releases Presentation Prompter 3.0

07/09, 7:50pm

NextForce releases Presentation Prompter 3.0

NextForce Software has released Presentation Prompter 3.0, the latest version of its $25 teleprompting application for the Mac. Version 3.0 adds Mac OS X compatibility, Applescript support, a rewritten keypoint system, mirror prompting setup support, temporary pause features, presentation setup saving, new arrowline behavior options, interface guidelines compliance, and optimizations for smoother prompting support and less processor time usage in the background. [Classic: 837 KB; Carbon: 882 KB]

Adobe names first apps targeted for OS X

07/09, 7:45pm

Adobe names first apps targeted for OS X

Adobe Vice President Susan Altman Prescott has indicated that InDesign and Illustrator will be the company's first two applications released for Mac OS X, according to MacCentral. However, the company will not give a timetable for their release for "competitive reasons." Adobe will not be attending next week's Macworld Expo New York due to financial concerns, but Prescott reiterated Adobe's intent to fully support Mac OS X and continue its strong relationship with Apple.

MaxBulkMailer 1.7.4: E-mail merge and bulk

07/09, 6:55pm

MaxBulkMailer 1.7.4: E-mail merge and bulk

Maxprog has released MaxBulkMailer 1.7.4, a new version of its mail-merge and bulk mailer that adds the ability to send HTML only as well as improvements and bug fixes. [Classic: 1.1 MB; Carbon: 1.1 MB]

Sonnet introduces "64MB for $64" promo

07/09, 6:50pm

Sonnet introduces "64MB for $64" promo

Sonnet Technologies has introduced its "64MB for $64" DIMM program, a special RAM offering with the purchase of any Sonnet Crescendo/7200 or Crescendo/PCI upgrade. The specifications of the DIMMs offered in the promotion are: 64MB (8 x 64); 60ns; 5 volt; 4K Refresh; 168-pin; Fast Page Mode (FPM). The memory is new using refurbished components, and is compatible with Crescendo/7200 DIMM sockets; motherboard DIMM sockets on the Power Macintosh 7200, 7500, 7600, 8500, 8600, 9500, 9600; and other models with identical memory requirements.

LogotypeMaker 3.0 Pro adds QT export

07/09, 6:20pm

LogotypeMaker 3.0 Pro adds QT export

Blue Line Studios today released LogotypeMaker 3.0 Pro, an update to its logo creation tool. It adds the ability to export as a QuickTime movie as well as several new slideshow options.

Charismac releases AudioScribe 2.01

07/09, 6:20pm

Charismac releases AudioScribe 2.01

Charismac has released AudioScribe 2.01, its $15 ($10 introductory price) direct-to-disk audio recording software package previously only available as part of its Discribe CD mastering program. AudioScribe lets users record audio from virtually any input source—including vinyl records, cassette tapes, 8-tracks or voice—and saves the audio in uncompressed AIFF format.

U.S. Navy pays for FreeBSD security work

07/09, 6:05pm

U.S. Navy pays for FreeBSD security work

The U.S. Navy's Space and Warfare Systems Command has awarded a $1.2 million contract to NAI Labs, the advanced research group within PGP Security, to develop security extensions to FreeBSD, the open source operating system upon which Apple's Mac OS X is built. The Community-Based Open Source Security (CBOSS) initiative will be lead by scientists from NAI Labs with work done in part by sub-contractors from the FreeBSD development community, including Kirk McKusick, Poul-Henning Kamp, Jonathan Lemon, and Eivind Eklund. The security extensions could be integrated into Mac OS X.

Apple announces keynote Webcast, broadcast

07/09, 6:00pm

Apple announces keynote Webcast, broadcast

Apple today announced it would provide a QuickTime Webcast of Macworld Expo keynote, following denial by IDG officials earlier in the day. The live webcast and satellite broadcast will take place at 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 18.

June issue of Dimensions coming soon

07/09, 5:55pm

June issue of Dimensions coming soon

Alto Stratus LLC is now printing the June issue of 'Dimensions: The Journal of 4D & WebSTAR,' the latest edition of the 4th Dimension programming resource. Since taking over publication of the magazine in March 2001, Dimensions features twice the content, an improved layout, and sample code. Issues are available in both PDF and print.

InterMapper 3.5 gains OS X support

07/09, 5:25pm

InterMapper 3.5 gains OS X support

Dartware has released InterMapper 3.5, a new version of its network monitoring and alerting tool. The new version adds Carbon compatibility for Classic and Mac OS X support, custom SNMP probes for testing new kinds of equipment, a number of new probes for monitoring various devices, OpenTransport SNMP detection, improved autodiscovery, built-in users and groups, SNMP Trap Receiver, and other minor improvements. [Classic: 2.1 MB; Carbon: 1.7 MB]

Tech: Webvan files for bankruptcy protection

07/09, 5:00pm

Tech: Webvan files for bankruptcy protection

Evening tech news: Online grocer Webvan, which purchased rival HomeGrocer.com last summer, has ceased operations, laid off approximately 2,000 employees, and is filing for bankruptcy protection; Windows XP, Microsoft's next-generation operating system, could sell for more than Microsoft's current OS offering; NEC plans to introduce a new handheld running Microsoft's Windows CE by the end of the year; and France is considering spending about $3.87 billion to provide broadband Internet access nationwide by 2005.

Apple buys Spruce Technologies

07/09, 4:40pm

Apple buys Spruce Technologies

Apple is buying Windows-based DVD software maker Spruce Technologies, according to c|net. The San Jose, California-based company has 55 workers and is referring all media inquiries to Apple's public relations department. Apple has released a brief statement regarding the acquisition and plans to offer a migration plan to existing Spruce customers.

Mailsmith 1.1.7: Mac e-mail client updated

07/09, 4:30pm

Mailsmith 1.1.7: Mac e-mail client updated

Bare Bones Software has released Mailsmith 1.1.7, a new version of its e-mail client for the Mac. Version 1.1.7 adds numerous bug fixes and performance improvements, including several changes that make it easier to run Mailsmith in the Classic environment of Mac OS X.

New Neverwinter Nights forum opens

07/09, 3:25pm

New Neverwinter Nights forum opens

Black Isle Studios has opened new forums for fans to discuss the highly anticipated 3D role-playing game from Bioware, Neverwinter Nights, which will be released for Classic and Mac OS X, PC, and Linux. The forums are divided into four sections: developer questions/answers, hot topics, campaign discussion, and dungeon masters.

Rue 1.07 fixes bugs, adds EAX support

07/09, 3:15pm

Rue 1.07 fixes bugs, adds EAX support

Westlake Interactive has released Rune 1.07, a new version of the third-person 3D action game originally developed by Human Head Studios. The new version fixes a bug with NVIDIA graphics cards on dual monitor systems, adds EAX support for Sound Blaster Live! cards, cleans up OpenGL support, and adds more native GameRanger support. Additionally, the update includes all of the bug fixes from the current PC version.

No webcast for Macworld New York keynote

07/09, 2:40pm

No webcast for Macworld New York keynote

IDG World Expo has confirmed with MacNN that Steve Jobs' opening keynote at next week's Macworld Conference & Expo New York 2001 will not be webcast live. The move is a departure from recent years in which Mac users have been able to watch the hardware introductions and demonstrations via a live QuickTime stream. A page at Apple's Web site is expected to have an archive movie following the keynote. MacNN will have live coverage of the event and bring readers news and announcements as they are made.

Apple expected to edge out Dell in education

07/09, 2:30pm

Apple expected to edge out Dell in education

Apple may edge out Dell this fall in the education market installed base, as it is expected to have a larger number of Macs in use versus Dell PCs in the 2001-2002 school year. The recently released QED data is based on a sample survey of districts in the U.S. Public School system and does not reflect actual numbers, which will not be available until late this year or early next year, according to MacGeneration. (Dell is currently No. 1 in the education market, as it sells more new systems to education customers than any other PC vendor.)

The Register: Adobe turns its face on OS X?

07/09, 2:20pm

The Register: Adobe turns its face on OS X?

The Register reports on "rumours of a chill in the relationship between Adobe and Apple," noting that while a number of applications being ported to OS X and Classic development is continuing, OS X development has nearly ceased because of "bugs and performance issues with the OS X Carbon libraries, necessary to port classic apps, and longer term doubts about the competitiveness of the PowerPC 7450 processor and its successor, the G5."

Fortune Cookie 1.0: fortunes on your desktop

07/09, 2:20pm

Fortune Cookie 1.0: fortunes on your desktop

Vizspring Software has released Fortune Cookie 1.0, an application for both Mac OS 8/9 and OS X that "displays a random fortune every day when you start up your computer. It's fortunes range from typical Chinese-like fortunes to the out-of-the-ordinary, unusual, and unexpected."

Former users provide Napster eulogy

07/09, 2:20pm

Former users provide Napster eulogy

A Reuters report provides opinions from former Napster users on the demise of the once-popular music swapping service, which has dwindled in popularity since a court injunction forced it to block copyrighted music. The service has been shut down since July 2 as Napster upgrades its servers, but many users believe that the service has been dead since the court order. "Napster was dead six months ago. They just remembered to chuck dirt in the grave this week."

Gamebrain X-treme for kids coming in October

07/09, 1:50pm

Gamebrain X-treme for kids coming in October

LearningSoft has introduced Gamebrain X-treme, a new cross-platform (Mac/PC) educational adventure title for kids ages 9 to 13. Players answer a distress call from a humanoid robot named C.H.I.P. and help him eliminate the Brain Drainers, a malicious alien race. Using advanced articial intelligence technology, players engage in real-time, two-way conversations with C.H.I.P. as they guide him through isometric 3D worlds on an adventure. Topics of conversation can range from help with a difficult mission to real life advice. Five worlds are included with the game, and additional worlds will be released episodically online after the game's release in October 2001.

"Dual" created using QuickTime and Flash

07/09, 1:40pm

"Dual" created using QuickTime and Flash

Cinema Next has created Dual, a multi-path live-action short film that spoofs Steven Spielberg's 1971 made-for-TV classic, Duel. The interactive movie, created using QuickTime and Flash, lets users choose the plot line at specific points that affect the main character's outcome. Dual will be available for download at AtomFilms.com later this summer.

Solscape 1.0b4: "Solar Data browser"

07/09, 12:50pm

Solscape 1.0b4: "Solar Data browser"

Solscape 1.0b4, available now as PowerPC or a Carbon application, adds support for AppleScript, support for Solar Flare data, and other enhancements to the "donationware" application that grabs real-time images of the Sun and monitors current solar flare, geomagnetic, and Aurora activity. [Classic, Carbon]

@soft intro new MACAST MP3 Converter b2

07/09, 11:35am

@soft intro new MACAST MP3 Converter b2

@soft today introduced a public beta of MACAST MP3 Converter b2 for both OS 8/9 and OSX. The free tool allows users to convert MP3s into uncompressed audio, for burning to audio CDs.

Thoughts on iBook as Linux portable

07/09, 11:10am

Thoughts on iBook as Linux portable

Jack Moffitt has posted his thoughts on using his new iBook as a Linux portable: "I am triple booting OS 9, OS X, and Linux, and it even lets me use the graphical OS selector built into Open Firmware to do this."

iBook No. 2 selling portable in Japan

07/09, 11:00am

iBook No. 2 selling portable in Japan

Apple's iBook 500/CD is the No. 2 best selling portable in Japan behind Sony's Vaio Note FX. The DVD, DVD, CD-RW and Combo models of the same notebook are 9th, 16th and 19th in overall sales, according to the MacGeneration report.

Lexmark introduces new $200 laser printer

07/09, 10:50am

Lexmark introduces new $200 laser printer

Lexmark today introduced the E210, its new $200 laser printer that offers 12 ppm printing, USB/parallel connectivity, and support for a variety of media types, including envelopes, labels, transparencies and card stock. The E210, which ships with a one-year LexExpress warranty with next-business-day-exchange, is expected to be available this month.

New multimedia application promotional bundle

07/09, 8:40am

New multimedia application promotional bundle

Totally Hip and Tribeworks are offering a new "The Summer of Independence!" promo, which runs through the end of the month. It bundles Totally Hip's Live Stage Professional 3.0 and Tribeworks' iShell 2.2 (Silver) for $1000, more than 45% off the combined price of each multimedia application.

OS X: WebObjects 5p1, DiskLock 2.0

07/09, 8:35am

OS X: WebObjects 5p1, DiskLock 2.0

osx.macnn.com has news of WebObjects 5 Update 1 and a utilty to patch the dock to keep its (customized) orientation/pinning through OS restarts.

DockLock 2.0: locks dock orientation, pinning

07/09, 8:25am

DockLock 2.0: locks dock orientation, pinning

Frank Vercruesse has posted a new version of his DockLock 2.0, which "patchs the Dock so that it keeps your favorite orientation and pinning setting, even after a restart. Version 2.0 of the patch doesn't require the location of the Dock to be restored at login time anymore; the Dock now just keeps the setting."

UMAX s hips Astra 4400 USB scanner

07/09, 8:25am

UMAX s hips Astra 4400 USB scanner

UMAX is now shipping its Astra 4400 scanner, the company's first 48-bit color scanner. The USB-based scanner offers 1200 x 2400 dpi resolution and programmable push-button controls. The transparency-capable Astra 4450 is expected soon, and will ship with a Universal Transparency Cover (UTC) for scanning transparent media up to 4" x 5".

WebObjects 5.0 Update 1 posted by Apple

07/09, 7:45am

WebObjects 5.0 Update 1 posted by Apple

WebObjects 5 Update 1 contains general bug fixes for WebObjects 5 on all platforms and is recommended for use on all platforms. The update is available for both Development and Deployment packages. (It requires you to login as "root" and also have OS X 10.04 Server update installed.) [Dev: 6.2MB; Deployment: 5.8MB]

Apple Expo: Website info, registrations

07/09, 7:45am

Apple Expo: Website info, registrations

Apple has launched its its Apple Expo Website for (free) registration and information about its only European show, which takes place in Paris, France from September 26-30. Over 250 exhibitors and 80,000 visitors from across Europe are expected at the event, according to Macworld UK.

MovieWorks 5.1: multimedia authoring tool

07/09, 7:05am

MovieWorks 5.1: multimedia authoring tool

MovieWorks 5.1 is an update to the $80 suite of applications for producing multimedia content (QuickTime movies, personal and corporate videos, dynamic slide shows, and interactive & linear presentations). Version 5.1 includes the ability to create auto-load/auto-start CDs and add links to Web pages and PDF files. The $130 Deluxe version includes support for button objects, VR support and unlimited scenes. Demos of each are available online.

Oculus 3.1: shareware Webcam utility

07/09, 6:50am

Oculus 3.1: shareware Webcam utility

Oculus 3.1, an update to $20 Webcam utility, adds, options for JavaScript image updates, adjustable spacing/leading for captions, new plug-in caption modules, a motion trigger mask, and a new Carbon application. [Classic, Carbon]

FileChop 2.0: file segmentation utility

07/09, 6:50am

FileChop 2.0: file segmentation utility

Ben Bargagliotti's FileChop 2.0 adds support for OS X as well as several new features to his file segmentation utility.

CharlieX Screen Ruler 1.4c: measurement util

07/09, 6:45am

CharlieX Screen Ruler 1.4c: measurement util

charlieX software has released CharlieX Screen Ruler 1.4c, its $10 Classic-compatible shareware that "draws cool transparent pixel ruler ot top and left edge of your desktop as well as shows dragging screen ruler, template of usual screen sizes and mouse coordinates."

ecOrganizer 1.2: FMPro contact/project system

07/09, 6:45am

ecOrganizer 1.2: FMPro contact/project system

ecOrganizer 1.2 is a contact- and project-management syste that tracks favourite tasks, notes and messages. Version 1.2 offers improved navigation, maintenance functions, and other enhancements to the FileMaker-based system. [demo: 1.9MB update: 600KB]

Iconfactory posts new Aqua icon set

07/09, 6:35am

Iconfactory posts new Aqua icon set

The Iconfactory has posted the second installment of its OS X series of icons, World of Aqua 2, which offers all new 128x128 photo realistic icons for "some of the hottest new Apple portable hardware, more replacement folders for the user-level directories, plus all sorts of everyday objects with a slightly global flair, from Japanese postboxes to classic Swedish telephones."

Aimster 1.003 file sharing client updated

07/09, 6:35am

Aimster 1.003 file sharing client updated

Aimster for Mac 1.003 adds options to cancel search routines, supports Internet Control panel for file mapping, and fixes several bugs in the Napster-like file sharing client that works with AOL Instant Messenger.

Roundup: Apple recalls PowerBook G3 adapters

07/09, 2:00am

Roundup: Apple recalls PowerBook G3 adapters

Recently Apple issued a voluntary recall on certain AC adapters that were sold for use with PowerBook G3s. Other reports included the state of Mac programming from a novice's perspective, Sony and Apple's consumer market strength, Flix for Mac, and Macintosh support for the ECW image compression format. Software releases included PlayerPRO 5.9, Cumulus 5.0.10, and Prowler 2.2.1.