News Archive for 01/08/27

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B-Prolog: constraint logic programming system

08/27, 10:40pm

B-Prolog: constraint logic programming system

B-Prolog, a versatile constraint logic programming (CLP) system, is now available for Mac OS and Darwin. The programming environment, which combines both logic programming and constraint solving, offers an interactive environment, a bi-directional interface with C/Java, action rules and constraint solveers, a built-in high-level graphics library, and tabling mechanisms.

Audiocorde 3.10 adds sound input selection

08/27, 10:40pm

Audiocorde 3.10 adds sound input selection

Black Cat Systems' Audiocorder 3.10 adds the ability to select the sound input source from within Audiocorder, as well as more easily change the recording settings. The shareware allows your Mac to acts as a sophisticated audio recorder, operating as a volume operated (VOX) audio recorder or a programmable audio recorder.

Patch to remove Sherlock banners

08/27, 8:00pm

Patch to remove Sherlock banners

Andrew Watters has written a patch to remove banner ads from Sherlock in Mac OS X, and other system versions.

Convert 3.0: conversion utility

08/27, 7:55pm

Convert 3.0: conversion utility

Conversion 3.0, once a popular Mac Desk Accessory, is now available as a standalone $10 shareware utility that offers the ability to convert between different units of measurement, such as length, weight, temperature, model railroad scales, and others. Version 3.0, available for OS X and Classic, allow users to import, export, and customize the menus.

Agere introduces new wireless networking kits

08/27, 4:45pm

Agere introduces new wireless networking kits

Agere has announced new ORiNOCO wirless networking kits, including a Wireless Home & Small Office Networking Kit for the desktop ($350), which the new RG-1100 Broadband Gateway that wirelessly connects up to ten computers and provides high-speed Internet access from a DSL, ISDN or cable modem connection (AirPort-compatible).

Motorola names G5 as PowerPC 8500

08/27, 4:30pm

Motorola names G5 as PowerPC 8500

Motorola's next generation PowerPC processor, codenamed G5, will be officially known as the PowerPC 8500 and not the 7500, as originally planned, according to The Register: "It's a sign that Motorola is turning its sights even further away from the desktop market - represented by the '7' in its chip nomenclature - to the embedded arena - which is essentially what the '8' indicates." The article notes that PowerPC 8500 will have symmetric processing capabilities,, silicon-on-insulator technology, and a 0.13 micron architecture as well as an extensible architecture, new pipeline and both a 32-bit and 64-bit product line.

ADS announces FireWire drive enclosure

08/27, 4:25pm

ADS announces FireWire drive enclosure

ADS today announced the PYRO/FireWire-based PYRO DV RAID, a $400 removable dual-bay drive enclosure that accommodates two Ultra ATA-100/66 hard drives and includes Charismac RAID Plus software to support RAID levels 0 (striping) and 1 (mirroring) on Mac OS 9 systems.

Plextor shipping USB 2.0 8x/8x/24x CD-RW

08/27, 4:25pm

Plextor shipping USB 2.0 8x/8x/24x CD-RW

Plextor is now shipping its 8x/8x/24xU CD-RW drive, which is housed in a "stylish yet durable silver-and-blue" portable enclosure case and offers USB 2.0 connectivity for OS X systems, according to the company. USB 1.1 compatibility is available, offering 4x/4x/6x specs with Mac OS 8/9 operating systems. The $290 drive has a 2MB buffer and supports a wide variety of writing modes, including Track-at-Once, Disc-at-Once, Session-at-Once, Multisession, and variable/fixed packet writing.

Videonics FireStore: record DV on hard disks

08/27, 4:15pm

Videonics FireStore: record DV on hard disks

FOCUS Enhancements today announced immediate availability of Videonics FireStore, a $1000 DV product that allows direct camera-to-hard disk recording of edit-ready DV files without the use of a computer: "[it] converts any IEEE-1394 (FireWire, i.Link) Hard Disk Drive (or drives) into a high performance digital disk recorder/player. It allows video production professionals to record directly to disk from a DV based camcorder, VTR or mixer."

Dell: "the first" with wireless in notebook

08/27, 4:10pm

Dell: "the first" with wireless in notebook

A MacNN reader notes a recent interview with Michael Dell in which he claims to have "he first to integrate wireless into notebooks, with integrated antennas."

c|net: FireWire poised to become 'ubiquitous

08/27, 3:00pm

c|net: FireWire poised to become 'ubiquitous

FireWire is poised to become ubiquitous, according to a cnet article that mentions the Texas Instruments' introduction of FireWire 2.0, or 1394.b, which "will double the speed at which data can be shared, to 800 megabits per second. The new standard also allows FireWire to carry data over longer distances, using fiber-optic cables as well as traditional copper wiring. "

iRez ships FireWire Web Camera

08/27, 12:45pm

iRez ships FireWire Web Camera

iREZ has begun shipping the StealthFire Web Camera, which can display or capture video ata full 30 fps at 640 x 480 resolution. The FireWire-based camera includes iREZ Reel-Eyes, video capture, edit and viewing software, and ISPQ video chat software. The base package with software is $130, while package with analog headset and microphone with volume control is $150. A software, headset and 3-port iREZ WildFir 1394/FireWire PCI card is $170.

Readers look for Rage Pro Turbo support

08/27, 11:45am

Readers look for Rage Pro Turbo support

Tim De Chant writes "As a rev. D iMac user, I have grown frustrated with Apple's lack of true support for my graphics card, the ATI Rage Pro Turbo. Many others share my discontent, both on your BB system and elsewhere, which is why I started a petition to get Apple to recognize the need to fully support our machines... Apple has unfortunately neglected to included real drivers for these GPUs, thus leaving 2D and 3D elements unaccelerated in OS X. "

08/27, 11:40am

Weblet Contacts for Lasso and CDML are collections of format files and databases (FMPro 4 and 5) to "get you started building your own system. Weblet Contacts provides a full-featured, web based contact manager that you can use all by itself, merge with your existing solution, or modify however you like."

ATI introduces new Mobility Radeon 7500

08/27, 11:20am

ATI introduces new Mobility Radeon 7500

ATI today unveiled the Mobility Radion 7500, ATI's next-generation mobile graphics processor, which it says "delivers almost twice the performance of its nearest competitor on a range of industry standard benchmark tests. The graphics processor supports 128-bit DDR (double data rate) memory and consumes less than half a watt in a light usage scenario, including a reduction in battery power of up to 25 percent during DVD Playback.

Adobe introduces Acrobat Approval 5.0

08/27, 10:40am

Adobe introduces Acrobat Approval 5.0

Adobe today announced the availability of Acrobat Approval 5.0, which offers the ability to users to easily fill-in, spell-check, digitally sign, save, and submit eForms that have been created using Acrobat 5.0 software. The software also supports 128-bit encryption and password protection. It is available immediately in English, French, German, and Japanese versions Mac OS OS 8.6, 9.0.4 and 9.1. Pricing is $40 for a single license with substantial discounts for volume licensing.

Picture Play 1.2 creates photo collage images

08/27, 10:15am

Picture Play 1.2 creates photo collage images

Crescendo Software's Picture Play 1.2 is an "application for creating compositions of many images. It is basically an electronic collage. You can use it to incorporate multiple images into a single artistic image, and add text labels as well." [Classic, Carbon]

Apple Europe also cuts PowerBook prices

08/27, 10:00am

Apple Europe also cuts PowerBook prices

Following PowerBook G4 price cuts on Friday, Apple Europe has also cut prices on its professional notebook: 2590 and 3505 EUR for the 400-MHz and 500-MHz models, respectively. (One reader also writes that developer pricing has been updated to $1,759 and $2,399 respectively as well, although this has been unconfirmed.)

Merilus security products for OS X

08/27, 10:00am

Merilus security products for OS X

Merilus today announced that its line of network security products including the Gateway Guardian (security and connectivity software package) and FireCard (PCI security card) lines are now OS X-compatible, bringing security and network enhancement features such as setting up firewalls, managing bandwidth, and creating VPN tunnels to OS X. The update will be made available at no extra charge to all existing Merilus customers and will be incorporated into all new product.

Bhand 1.0: Biometric security utility

08/27, 9:55am

Bhand 1.0: Biometric security utility

BHand 1.0 is a computer password utility that analyzes "the keyboard typing style of each user. Doing this and applying a biometric analysis BHand is able to recognize any user." It claims to be 95% effective.

BreveWalkter 1.1: OS X screensaver

08/27, 9:50am

BreveWalkter 1.1: OS X screensaver

Jon Klein's BreveWalker 1.1 is a screensaver for OS X in which "a physically realistic simulated creature learns to walk using a genetic algorithm. Starting with random walking behaviors, the system learns over time by selectively breeding and mutating these behaviors."

Woodfield Store: more photos, QuickTime video

08/27, 9:50am

Woodfield Store: more photos, QuickTime video

MacNN readers have posted a QuickTime video of this weekend's Chicago-Area retail store grand opening as well as more photos.

Fred Anderson says no education spike

08/27, 8:30am

Fred Anderson says no education spike

A Reuters article quotes Apple CFO Fred Anderson as saying "Normally you do get a little bit of a seasonal bounce with back to school, but we think it is prudent not to count on that this year." The same piece chronicles similar struggles in the education market from other manufacturers.

PowerForce G4/450 Review

08/27, 8:20am

PowerForce G4/450 Review

We've posted a review of PowerLogix's PowerForce G4/450 ZIF upgrade, the company's upgrade designed for Beige, Blue and White, and All-in-one G3 systems.

eClick 1.0.1 fixes OS 9.2.1 incompatibilities

08/27, 7:50am

eClick 1.0.1 fixes OS 9.2.1 incompatibilities

eClick 1.0.1 creates button graphics for web sites and presentations through a six-step process, from selecting a button's style, size, color, shadow and label to choosing its final output file format. The new release fixes OS 9.2.1 incompatibilities.

Ambrosia unveils Pillars of Garendall

08/27, 7:45am

Ambrosia unveils Pillars of Garendall

Ambrosia Software has unveiled Pillars of Garendall, a new action-oriented role playing game. The title was created by Beenox using the Coldstone game engine. The game has extensive support for plugins, which allow it to be expanded with new levels and characters. Ambrosia has made Pillars of Garendall available both as a download, and a published CD.

Magellan 2.0.1 claimed "fastest" OS X e-mai

08/27, 7:35am

Magellan 2.0.1 claimed "fastest" OS X e-mai

Magellan 2.0.1 is the latest release of an e-mail client for both Classic and Mac OS X environments. The new version adds support for messages sent from cellular phones, adds mailbox repair functionality, and fixes several bugs.

SQLGrinder 1.0 released

08/27, 7:30am

SQLGrinder 1.0 released

SQLGrinder 1.0 is a native Mac OS X SQL editor and developer tool that allows developers to easily create, edit and execute SQL queries as well as browse their database structures.