News Archive for 01/09/24

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REALbasic 4a1: basic environment enters alpha

09/24, 11:50pm

REALbasic 4a1: basic environment enters alpha

REALbasic 4 a1 is the first alpha release of the cross-platform development environment, adding several new features and fixing a few bugs.

New Turbo Mouse Pro Wireless Trackball

09/24, 7:40pm

New Turbo Mouse Pro Wireless Trackball

Kensington today introduced its new Turbo Mouse Pro Wireless trackball, which it claims "is the first wireless input device compatible with Apple's new Mac OS X operating system," using the bundled MouseWorks driver. The RF-based trackball allows you to workwithin 6ft of your system and features six Direct Launch buttons, four programmable buttons, and an integrated scroll wheel. The $120 mouse, expected to ship later this month, is backed by Kensington's satisfaction guarantee, which features a five-year product warranty, no-risk 90-day trial and toll-free technical support. [pricing discrepancy on Website]

New retail iMac config on October 1st

09/24, 6:40pm

New retail iMac config on October 1st

MacNN Sources report that Apple will introduce a new retail version of its iMac on October 1st. The new Indigo-colored iMac will feature a G3 processor, 64MB of RAM, a 20GB drive, a 24xCD, and a 56K modem. It is expected to be available on October 1st for $799. (MacNN sources have been unable to confirm the processor speed, but it may be as high G3/500MHz, similar to the special $800 configuration iMac available to education institutions and for $850 to faculty, staff, and students; other sources report it will be a 400MHz processor.)

Grammarian X for OS X now shipping

09/24, 5:25pm

Grammarian X for OS X now shipping

Grammarian X, Casady & Greene's $50 grammar checker, is now available for electronic download. It adds the ability to lock and unlock the Writing Rules feature and allows users and administrators who work in a network environment to share common Writing Rules settings. The universal grammar checker also features 150 built-in grammar rules and claims to provide "over five times more grammar checking power than the limited grammar checkers in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Office." Upgrades are $20.

FireWriter offers FireWire characters

09/24, 3:15pm

FireWriter offers FireWire characters

Focus Enhancements has unveiled the FireWriter, a digital video character generator equipped with FireWire connections (IEEE 1394) for use with video source, storage, and playback devices. The device anti-aliases titles and character by character attributes like font, font size, color, shadow, outline, and 256 levels of transparency. With the device, users can superimpose JPEG images over videos and other backgrounds. FireWriter is available at an U.S. suggested retail price of $2195.00.

PrefsOverload 3.1 improves speed in sys util

09/24, 3:00pm

PrefsOverload 3.1 improves speed in sys util

Angelo Scicolone has released PrefsOverload 3.1, which brings a 50% improvement in speed, full PDF help and a new main menu screen. to the $15 utility for managing the Preferences Folder.

Reader: performance numbers at Lightwave 3D

09/24, 12:45pm

Reader: performance numbers at Lightwave 3D

Will Jessop writes: "At the offical website for Lightwave 3D there are some performance graphics pitting a dual 533 and a 1.5gHz P4. It is amazing to see that the dual 533 is faster in some tests, and about the same in others. Pro-Apple performance numbers from a source than Apple is always good."

MCE ships FireBay, adds FireWire connectivity

09/24, 12:25pm

MCE ships FireBay, adds FireWire connectivity

MCE is now shipping FireBay, its FireWire expansion bay docking station that brings FireWire connectivity to PowerBook expansion bay devices such as hard drives, CD-ROM/DVD drives, CD-RW drives, CD-RW/DVD Combo drives, and SuperDisk/Floppy drives. The $170 "docking station" allows users to plugin a variety of PB expansion modules for use with FireWire-equipped Macs and also provides a "topside" FireWire port for stacking multiple dockstations.

Quickie Photos to Web 1.2.2: Web-photo albums

09/24, 12:25pm

Quickie Photos to Web 1.2.2: Web-photo albums

Quickie Photos to Web 1.2.2 is a maintenance release to the $23 shareware application for quickly creating web photo albums. It offers several options for formatting the HTML. A 45-day demo is available. [Classic, Carbon]

CompuCable intros combo drive conversion kit

09/24, 12:15pm

CompuCable intros combo drive conversion kit

CompuCable has announced the 4th generation of its 2.5" drive conversion kit, FireXpress 250 USB^2 Combo. Supporting both USB 2.0 and FireWire technologies, the conversion kit accepts ATA-100 hard drives up to 12.5mm height. The kit is due in mid-October at retail stores and in mail order catalogs; it includes a FireWire cable, USB cable, driver software, backup power adapter, and a vinyl pouch. [pricing not available]

Adobe Studio: design network for community

09/24, 12:10pm

Adobe Studio: design network for community

Adobe today unveiled new tools and services on the new Adobe Studio Web site, its new design network for the creative community. The site includes Adobe DesignTeam, a subscription-based collaboration service, and a free community area offering a wealth of design-related content.

MusicMatch 2.5: new streaming WMA support

09/24, 11:55am

MusicMatch 2.5: new streaming WMA support

MusicMatch Jukebox Plus 2.5 now offers the ability to play streamed and downloaded music in the Windows Media Audio (WMA) format and increased ripping speeds of up to 8x. The $20 software also features an interactive "guide" with music recommendations, artist and album information and music search capabilities as well as the ability to personalize the look and feel of their jukebox with three brand new skins. A free ("basic") version is also available with reduced functionality, including slower ripping speeds, no line-in encoding, no graphic equalizer, and less support for CD- drives.

Ulead introduces new Photo Explorer for Mac

09/24, 11:45am

Ulead introduces new Photo Explorer for Mac

Ulead Systems today introduced Ulead Photo Explorer for Mac, a complete media management tool for acquiring, organizing and sharing image, video and other media files designed for OEM licensing. The software offers direct capture of digital images from a range of digital cameras and scanners using TWAIN technology or the Adobe Photoshop Acquire Plug-in as well as supports thumbnail views; drag-and-drop; file sorting options; batch renaming functions; and one-touch photo adjustments.

Free credit card validator for FMPro

09/24, 11:30am

Free credit card validator for FMPro

Brian Dunning has released a free Card Validator for FileMaker, which checks the authenticity of credit card numbers with a single calculation ("not a script, not a plug-in."

Adobe Altercast: dynamic imaging software

09/24, 11:20am

Adobe Altercast: dynamic imaging software

Adobe today introduced Adobe AlterCast, a new dynamic imaging server software that allows Web publishers to automatically generate and repurpose images and graphics within existing content management and e-commerce solutions.

LCedit 2.01: advanced LanBox-LC editor

09/24, 11:15am

LCedit 2.01: advanced LanBox-LC editor

CDS advanced technology bv has released LCedit+ 2.01, an advanced LanBox-LC lighting editor, for multiple platforms. It fixes some bugs and adds grabber support. [Classic, Carbon]

Adobe Illustrator 10: OS X native, Web tools

09/24, 11:14am

Adobe Illustrator 10: OS X native, Web tools

Adobe today announced Illustrator 10, an OS X-native version of its vector-based professional illustration package. It brings integrated tools such as symbols and slicing for creating and optimizing Web graphics, options for live distortion and productivity enhancements such as dynamic data-driven graphics.

Tech: PC Maker outlook, AOL opens cable lines

09/24, 11:10am

Tech: PC Maker outlook, AOL opens cable lines

Morning tech news: Bear Stearns analyst Andrew Neff made across-the-board revenue and profit cuts for computer hardware makers, including Hewlett-Packard and Dell, citing weak business conditions. Sprint has licensed Handspring's Blazer web browser software for use in its Palm OS-based wireless devices; AOL Time Warne quietly opened its cable lines to rival Internet service provider Earthlink in the past week in Columbus, Ohio.

Lexmark ships 4-in-1 printer for under $200

09/24, 11:05am

Lexmark ships 4-in-1 printer for under $200

Lexmark has introduced the $200 Lexmark X63 All-In-One Office Center, which ships with fax, scan and copy functions. The 4-in-1 injket offers 2400 x 1200 dpi resolution (black/color) on all paper types, print speeds of up to 14 ppm black and 7 pmm color, USB connectivity, standalone black/color faxing, 36-bit color and 600 x 300 dpi scanning resolution, and support for black/color copying.

Sonic SD-1000 compatible with DVD Studio Pro

09/24, 10:55am

Sonic SD-1000 compatible with DVD Studio Pro

Sonic Solutions today announced that its SD-1000 video encoder is compatible with Apple's DVD Studio Pro authoring system, offering the ability to add high-quality, real-time video encoding with preview. The $10,000 system also offers real-time stereo PCM, MPEG-1 layer II and Dolby Digital audio encoding, frame-accurate control over chapter point locations , and 9-pin RS-422 machine control for frame-accurate encoding. SD-1000 v2.1.6, which includes compatibility with DVD Studio Pro, is available now.

FileMaker Developer 5.5 to ship October 1st

09/24, 10:50am

FileMaker Developer 5.5 to ship October 1st

FileMaker has announced that FileMaker Developer 5.5 will ship on October 1st: the worldwide English version is available worldwide starting today except in North America. FileMaker Developer 5.5 includes new Database Design Report features for documenting structures, a Script Debugger, updated ODBC Drivers Merant 3.5, and OS X support. The $500 application has a $100 mail-in rebate for owners of FileMaker Developer 5.0 through the end of the year.

MacReporter 1.0: dockling watches Websites

09/24, 10:40am

MacReporter 1.0: dockling watches Websites

MacReporter 1.0 is a shareware ($12) dockling for OS X that allows people to survey news websites for new content, providing notification they are updated: "it will grab the headlines and present them in a menu. The user can then select the articles they want to read and they will appear in their favorite browser."

InDesign 2.0: OS X support, transparency

09/24, 10:35am

InDesign 2.0: OS X support, transparency

Adobe today announced a new version of its professional layout and design program, InDesign 2.0. It brings support for extensible markup language (XML) import/export support, transparency, table creation, long document support, an improved printing interface, native OS X support and tighter integration with other Adobe products. It will be available in the first (calendar) quarter of 2002 to customers in the US and Canada for $700 with a special 90-day upgrade offer of $100 ($150 afterwards). Purchases of InDesign 1.5 on or after September 24, 2001 will be eligible for a free upgrade.

Jobs to announce OS X 10.1 at Seybold

09/24, 8:05am

Jobs to announce OS X 10.1 at Seybold

MacNN has learned that Steve Jobs will be announcing OS X 10.1 tomorrow at Seybold Seminars in San Franciso. Retail availability is expected at the end of the week and the CD will likely be made freely available at various retail locations; however, Apple is expected to charge a nominal fee for shipping ($20) for online orders.

Wacom to release beta OS X 10.1 driver

09/24, 8:00am

Wacom to release beta OS X 10.1 driver

MacNN has learned that in conjunction with tomorrow's OS X v10.1 announcment, Wacom, Wacom will post an OS X 10.1 beta-driver v4.70-7 for its Intuos and newly introduced Intous2 tablets. The download includes an installer, driver and control panel; requires OS X 10.1 (it will not work with earlier versions); and supports all older Wacom USB tablets, including the USB versions of PenPartner, Graphire (ET), PL-400, PL-500 and Intuos, as well as the newly released Graphire2, Intuos2 and Cintiq tablets.

Wacom announces interactive pen display

09/24, 8:00am

Wacom announces interactive pen display

Wacom today introduced the Cintiq 15X, a pressure-sensitive Interactive Pen Display. The $1,900 full 24-bit color LCD monitor display works with an included cordless, batteryless pressure-sensitive pen to draw and edit directly on the LCD screen. It also features increased pressure sensitivity (512 levels); both an analog and Digital Video Interface; and a USB or Serial Tablet Interface Connection as well as a brighter screen and reduced weight (compared to its predecessor). It is expected to ship in October.

Corel Graphics Suite 10 for Mac coming soon

09/24, 7:45am

Corel Graphics Suite 10 for Mac coming soon

An announcement on Corel's Website says that an announcement on its forthcoming new Corel Graphics Suite 10 for Mac is expected on September 26. (Due to the cancellation of Apple Expo Paris, the announcement may now take place Seybold Seminars this week.)

Applespec database gets updated

09/24, 7:40am

Applespec database gets updated

Jeff Gordon has made "major revisions" to his free AppleSpec database, which requires FileMaker 5: "I'm still missing a LOT of Model Numbers... I hope 'you' out there can help! Don't forget to e-mail these changes to me: updates@applespec.com. Oh, and if anyone has a Developer edition of FileMaker Pro that they would like to donate so that I can produce a run-time version of the database, I would appreciate it (fully donated legal copy only, please :))."

SmartWrap 2.01: text manipulation utility

09/24, 7:35am

SmartWrap 2.01: text manipulation utility

SmartWrap 2.01, Selnick Software's text manipulation utility, improves list detection, fixes a few bugs, and brings compatibility with OS X 10.1 (yet-to-be-released). It is available as a plug-in for OS X (text services), Eudora, Preditor and BBEdit as well as a standalone Carbon application and an AppleScript addition.

MECCA 2.0B2: audio management utility

09/24, 7:25am

MECCA 2.0B2: audio management utility

Panamind has released a second beta of its $30 audio media management utility (for catalogging music collections), MECCA 2.0b2, fixing a bug that prevented the application from correctly starting up.

Seybold 2001 kicks off today

09/24, 4:20am

Seybold 2001 kicks off today

Seybold San Francisco 2001 kicks off today with a session containing speeches from John Van Siclen, COO of Interwoven; and Stephanie Acker-Moy General Manager of HP.com. Later in the day, a "lunch time" keynote will be delivered by Jurgen Kurz, Vice President of Product Management, Quark, Inc. Tomorrow morning, Phil Schiller, VP of Worldwide Product Marketing at Apple will take the stage to deliver Seybold's "special keynote" address, with a guest satellite appearance by Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

Sambucus 1.3 squashes bugs, adds timer

09/24, 4:15am

Sambucus 1.3 squashes bugs, adds timer

Sambucus 1.3 is the latest release of a multi-task time-management freeware application from Malus Software. The new version fixes a few bugs and introduces the floating timer window that displays the time spent on a task in real-time.

RealNetworks to fuse services

09/24, 4:15am

RealNetworks to fuse services

RealNetworks today plans to unveil a new service called RealOne that combines the company's RealPlayer (used for streaming media over the Internet) and RealJukebox (used to manage and play MP3s and other music files) solutions. It is unclear how the move will affect future Mac development of the RealPlayer application.

MonkeyByte.com offers texture map set

09/24, 4:00am

MonkeyByte.com offers texture map set

MonkeyByte.com has released the Escapism Texture Map Collection 1.1, a grouping of 150 seamless tileable textures sized 256x256 pixels. The collection consists of about 50 percent photorealistic industrial type of textures and 50 percent sci-fi fantasy textures.