News Archive for 01/10/26

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Toon Boom posts OS X 10.1 patch

10/26, 9:05pm

Toon Boom posts OS X 10.1 patch

Toon Boom has posted a free beta patch to make Toon Boom Studio compatible with OS X 10.1.

Epson posts new OS X drivers for inkjets

10/26, 9:05pm

Epson posts new OS X drivers for inkjets

John Hopkins notes that Epson has posted new OS X drivers, slightly ahead of its weekly projected schedule: Stylus Color 980 v1.1, Stylus Photo 780 v1.1, Stylus Photo 890 v1.1, and Stylus Photo 1280 v1.1.

Foto Trimmer 1.0: digital photo application

10/26, 8:50pm

Foto Trimmer 1.0: digital photo application

Bosco today introduced Foto Trimmer 1.0, which "lets you quickly scale, stretch,squish, rotate, flip, and trim your digital photos: "I designed Foto Trimmer to be so easy and fast to use, that anyone can do those things on an afternoon's worth of pictures in a few minutes." A 7-day trial of the $40 utility is available online. [Classic, Carbon]

Apple promotion in UK shopping mall

10/26, 8:45pm

Apple promotion in UK shopping mall

A MacNN reader writes about an Apple promotion in a UK shopping mall:

"I was pleasantly surprised when visiting Cribbs Causeway Shopping Mall near Bristol, UK, today. In a space next to Starbucks were lots of G4s, iMacs, Tbooks & iBooks, with several Apple employees (including a so-called Mac 'genius') on hand to demonstrate the products & distribute free t-shirts, etc. Also representatives from Epson & HP, demonstrating Mac-compatible printers, cameras, etc....Is this a tester for future UK stores like those opening in the US?"

Ciboulette 1.0: file encryption utility

10/26, 8:45pm

Ciboulette 1.0: file encryption utility

Marcadesign has released Ciboulette 1.0, a new $10 shareware file encryption application that supports 448-bits keys, generates cross-platform documents (Mac OS Classic & Carbon and Windows), can use ZIP compression, and has a built-in "human-friendly" password generator.

DenebaShare 1.0 to ship for OS X in Q1'02

10/26, 4:50pm

DenebaShare 1.0 to ship for OS X in Q1'02

Deneba today released a Windows version of DenebaShare 1.0, a stand-alone application for sharing and organizing digital photos. The software offers the ability to securely make photos available over the Internet ad well as organize and browse photo collections. The softwarwe ships with Illustrator and Photoshop compatible plug-in filters. An OS X-optimized version is under development and will be released during Q1 2002.

Reader details MS Office v. X anti-piracy

10/26, 3:35pm

Reader details MS Office v. X anti-piracy

Following our note this morning on Microsoft's new anti-piracy measures in Office v. X, Matthew Whitaker offered some details:

"The Office v.X for Mac os X security is based on TCP/IP. The ports being used are in the 3000 range. If you run a port scan on the machine that is running Office you will see a port in the 3xxx range is open. This port is only open if the program is running. After packet sniffing I was able to determine that there is no communication to a central database. It is in fact then only a broadcast on the local area network."

CreateTable Units 1.8: conversion utility

10/26, 2:45pm

CreateTable Units 1.8: conversion utility

Synergy Creations today released ConverTable Units 1.8, an update to its shareware that adds more units and more constants (over 200 units available), improves calculator module accuracy for multistep calculations, and now uses localized number formats from "Numbers" Control Panel.

Apple offers $500 back on G4/display purchase

10/26, 2:00pm

Apple offers $500 back on G4/display purchase

Apple has started two new promotions today, offering discounts on purchases of new Power Mac and iMac hardware between October 26 and December 31st:

1. Apple's Crystal Clear Savings promo offers up to $500 back with the purchase of any Apple 15-inch, 17-inch, and 22-inch flat panel display and a Power Mac G4. Apple is offering $100 cash back on a 733MHz G4/display purchase, $300 back with a 867MHz G4/display purchase, and $500 cash back with a dual-800MHz G4/display purchase.
2. Snap it up offers a HP 318xi digital camera or $150 cash back with the purchase of any iMac through the end of the year.

KPT effects now shipping with 9 new filters

10/26, 1:40pm

KPT effects now shipping with 9 new filters

KPT effects, the second application in the procreate line of creative enhancement tools, is now shipping. The OS X-compatible application includes nine new Photoshop compatible plug-ins for adding effects to digital images, including Pyramid Paint; Lightning; Fluid; Hyper Tiling, Scatter; Channel Surfing; Ink Dropper; FraxFlame II and Gradient Lab. The $200 collection is expected to ship in German- and French-localized versions in November 2001.

New FireWire RAID offers 1TB of storage

10/26, 11:20am

New FireWire RAID offers 1TB of storage

FirewireDirect.com has introduced its new FireWire RAID Epic-DS Digital Storage (DS) System, a FireWire-based storage cluster with RAID support for over 1TB (terabyte) of storage. The $5,400 external storage tower includes redundant power supplies for reliability and uses the Oxford 911 chipset for maximum performance.

Pixologic releases "TextureMaster" ZScript

10/26, 11:15am

Pixologic releases "TextureMaster" ZScript

Pixologic has released a new "TextureMaster" ZScript for ZBrush, its application for dynamic and integrated digital imagery workflow. The TextureMaster ZScript simplifies the texturing process and enhances ZBrush's 3DCopy feature, which allows color details to be applied to a lower-resolution 3D mesh. TextureMaster avoids common 3D texturing problems and automates the process of texture adjustments.

ISP software business app gets Web functions

10/26, 11:10am

ISP software business app gets Web functions

Optigold ISP 2.8.5, an update to the cross-platform business software for ISPs, adds new web interface functions, Danish language support, ECHO credit card/ACH support, new tech support call classifications, AppleEvent support under OS X and a few other enhancements.

Macs used to help build WWII documentary

10/26, 11:10am

Macs used to help build WWII documentary

The Digital Healing Network, a community-building organization, helps people tell their stories for The World War II Memories Project by using Macs to produce multimedia movies about their wartime experiences. The teams use an iMac or Powr Mac to assemble the visuals in either iMovie, Final Cut Pro or Premiere.

SafeDisc LT helps prevent media copies

10/26, 10:55am

SafeDisc LT helps prevent media copies

Macrovision today announced the availability of SafeDisc LT for OS X and Mac OS 9 and says that it is currently porting its SafeDisc and SafeCast DRM product families to OS X. SafeDisc LT for the Mac authenticates original media and prevents unauthorized copying of original media, while future releases of the SafeDisc family will include API support for encryption of software functions, installer protection, a "robust" anti-hacking architecture, and support for various form of software licensing.

NYT reviews iPod: "absolutely ravishing"

10/26, 10:30am

NYT reviews iPod: "absolutely ravishing"

In his iPod review for the New York Times, David Pogue writes about its "remarkable" synergy with a Mac as well as the product's outside finish:

"The first thing you notice about the iPod is, well, that you notice it: you can't flash this thing in public without getting stopped by passers- by. In typical fashion, Apple has designed an absolutely ravishing machine, part mirror-finish stainless steel and part white acrylic, whose shine, fit and finish you can't see in photos... Unfortunately, fingerprints and streaks dull its shine faster than you can say, 'Honey, where do we keep the Windex?'" [free registration required]

MPEG2Splitter 1.1 splits MPEG-2 files

10/26, 10:20am

MPEG2Splitter 1.1 splits MPEG-2 files

JAW Software's MPEG2Splitter v1.01 "lets you split huge MPEG-2 files in smaller chunks of size specified by user. It is also possible to extract a single segment of the file, given the starting and ending offset." The $15 shareware utility has manual and automatic modes as well as filesizes over 2GB.

Reader provides comments on iTunes 2

10/26, 10:10am

Reader provides comments on iTunes 2

A MacNN reader writes about Apple's upcoming iTunes 2 software announced earlier this week and due in early November, which he says better supports long filenames, has significant performance improvements, and a "much better" launch time.

Office v.X offers new anti-piracy check?

10/26, 10:10am

Office v.X offers new anti-piracy check?

Roscoe Hunt writes about a new anti-piracy measure in Microsoft's upcoming Office v.X,, noting that the application performs a check on startup for other running copies with the license--even though AppleTalk is not turned on--indicating the check may be performed over any (IP) network.

Apple acknowleges DVD playback issues on PB

10/26, 10:05am

Apple acknowleges DVD playback issues on PB

On a weekly Mac radio show, Apple's PowerBook line product manager recently (publicly) acknowleged customer complaints about OS X DVD playback on PowerBook G3s (Wallstreet and Lombard): "...we have received customer feedback about that, and it's something we're taking to heart [Note: or 'checking hard', but I'm pretty certain it was 'taking to heart'], so I don't have any particular announcement or statements to make about it other than to say that we, you know, have heard people's comments about it."

Easter Egg on iPod noted at public appearance

10/26, 9:55am

Easter Egg on iPod noted at public appearance

Settimio Perlini writes that "MacityNet has published two pages with exclusive photos of the first public appearance of iPod, which also shows a newly discovered an Easter Egg."

Apple delays opening of Tice's Corner Store

10/26, 9:55am

Apple delays opening of Tice's Corner Store

Eric Smith notes that Apple has delayed the opening of its new Apple store at Tice's Corner in Woodcliff Lake, NJ by one week, because of "mall construction delays." The grand opening has been postponed to Saturday, November 3rd at 10 a.m.

Mossberg: Apple only vendor still innovating

10/26, 9:40am

Mossberg: Apple only vendor still innovating

Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg writes "Nearly all of the sex appeal, nearly all of the design innovation, in PCs is back at Apple... While it has only a sliver of the overall market, Apple has resumed its role as industry trendsetter. In recent years, it was the first to push easy wireless networking, video editing and DVD recording. This week, it introduced a cool, portable digital-music player, the first in what I expect will be a whole line of hand-held digital devices."

MS disables Hotmail access from Mac apps

10/26, 9:40am

MS disables Hotmail access from Mac apps

A recently updated support document at Microsoft's Website discusses security-related changes to Hotmail's email service, which disable access from Entourage 2001 and Outlook Express 5.02 when "you attempt to send or retrieve mail from a Microsoft MSN Hotmail account or attempt to configure a new Hotmail account after October 25, 2001...This behavior can occur because the Hotmail servers were updated on October 25, 2001 to provide greater security. These security updates disabled client programs' ability to gain access to or send mail from Hotmail."

Reader: XP most Mac-friendly Windows?

10/26, 9:35am

Reader: XP most Mac-friendly Windows?

Brandon Lewis writes that Windows XP may be the "most Mac-friendly Windows yet...Normally when people attach documents to email Windows will strip away the resource fork but WindowsXP seems to understand the resource fork. It still strips it away but it gives you a warning. This shows Microsoft’s attention to the Mac as a platform they are interested in playing nice with."

QuickTime movie of Chandler Store opening

10/26, 9:30am

QuickTime movie of Chandler Store opening

Bill Gunty and Cassy Paloian have posted a QuickTime movie of the Chandler Store Opening "made from over 3 hours of footage...The movie includes pre-opening employee and customer interviews, the 'moment', stuff throughout the day, the closing moment and post-close interviews with employees."

New OS X and QuickTime development books

10/26, 9:30am

New OS X and QuickTime development books

Morgan Kaufmann Publishers has released two new books: Mac OS X Developers Guide ($50) and the second edition of QuickTime for the Web For Windows and Macintosh ($60). The OS X developer guide, written by Jesse Feiler, teaches both Cocoa and Carbon development with extnsive example code. The QuickTime book is written by Steven Guilie and includes QuickTime Pro 5 and a full set of development tools for both Windows and Macintosh. Both are available for one-third off through November 16th.

Analyst: Apple "trumps" MS with OS X releas

10/26, 9:25am

Analyst: Apple "trumps" MS with OS X releas

Apple has "trumped Microsoft, in many analysts' view, by releasing its own OS X, a revamped, multimedia operating system about six months ago, beating XP," but although "Apple's products are better, [they are] not better enough to tip the scales for most people buying a computer."

Apple Schiller resigns from Earthlink Board

10/26, 9:20am

Apple Schiller resigns from Earthlink Board

EarthLink has appointed two new Board members, replacing Apple's VP of Worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller: "EarthLink has greatly benefited from the important contributions made by Philip Schiller and his stewardship in guiding the company." Schiller is leaving the Board to focus more attention on his duties at Apple, where he is vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing."

Apple launches online store in Norway

10/26, 9:15am

Apple launches online store in Norway

MacNN reader Tor R. Løseth notes that Apple Norway has launched a new Norway online store at www.apple.com/norwaystore: "Strangely enough, it doesn't offer the iPod. Something the authorized Apple resellers do."