News Archive for 01/11/15

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Apple Store: CD-RW for PBG4 unavailable

11/15, 10:20pm

Apple Store: CD-RW for PBG4 unavailable

A MacNN reader notes that the Apple Store currently lists the BTO option for adding CD-RW drives to a PowerBook G4 as "temporary unavailable." (Meanwhile, another MacNN reader reminds us about the Combo DVD/CD-RW drive BTO option for Power Mac G4s, which is a $150 option for the low-end retail configuration.)

New patches for Diablo II, Diablo II: LOD

11/15, 10:05pm

New patches for Diablo II, Diablo II: LOD

Blizzard has posted v1.09c patches for both Diablo II: Lord of Destruction v1.09C Upgrade Patch and Diablo II. The patch, which fixes a trading bug that could be exploited to allow one user to crash out another user, is available via Battle.net.

HotApp 1.0rc1: keyboard launch utility

11/15, 9:55pm

HotApp 1.0rc1: keyboard launch utility

HotApp 1.0rc1, a release candidate of the keyboard-launch utility, now allows the preference panel to be opened by a key combination, opens files with their default application, installs itself in the menubar, has a reduced application footprint, and a new internal architecture for supporting plugin (developer documentation available soon). The $15 shareware is available for $10 during the beta phase.

Tool Factory Maths Explorer Series titles

11/15, 9:50pm

Tool Factory Maths Explorer Series titles

Tool Factory today shipped four titles in the Maths Explorer educational software series--each of which teach "solid mathematical concepts, sprinkled with enough 3D graphics and sound effects to keep the students firmly entrenched in the learning objectives." The $70 titles include Maths Explorer, Maths Explorer: Number, Maths Explorer: Shape and Space, aand Maths Explorer: Data Handling.

Tech: Novell job cuts, Dell loss, XP defaced

11/15, 6:05pm

Tech: Novell job cuts, Dell loss, XP defaced

Evening tech news: Networking giant Novell says it will slash about 1,400 jobs, or 19 percent of its work force in an effort to regain profitability; Dell's net income fell 36 percent in its fiscal first quarter; Microsoft advertisements for Windows XP are being defaced in east London.

FWB ships Backup ToolKit 3.0 with OSX support

11/15, 5:55pm

FWB ships Backup ToolKit 3.0 with OSX support

FWB today announced the immediate availability of BackUp ToolKit 3. The new "Carbon" version has a new user interface, password encryption for compressed files, and a folder comparison function to ensure folders or volumes are identical as well as a streamlined configuration panel for programmed backups and a new backup mode called "Evolutive Mirror backup." The $50 utility is available now.

Intuit reports rising revenue, quarterly loss

11/15, 5:50pm

Intuit reports rising revenue, quarterly loss

Intuit, developer of Quicken, has reported revenue of $208.8 million for the first quarter of 2002, an increase of 11 percent over the year-earlier quarter, but also disclosed a net loss for the quarter of $92.4 million, or $0.44 per share. Intuit says it "typically reports a loss in its first fiscal quarter each year, when revenue from tax preparation businesses is minimal, but operating expenses to develop new products and services continue at relatively consistent levels."

Issues with iPod reported by readers

11/15, 5:45pm

Issues with iPod reported by readers

Geoff Harriman writes about a widespread issue that prevents iPods from being recognized onscreen in iTunes and/or the Finder.

Team MacNN continues RC5 challenge

11/15, 5:40pm

Team MacNN continues RC5 challenge

Team MacNN continues its challenge in the RC5 project with increased participation from our readers and more computing power. Team MacNN encourages both readers and forum goers to contribute to Team MacNN in "what ever way you can - be it a PowerMac 5500 or a dual processor G4. Any additional crunching power is welcome."

OpenFlight translator for Maya to debut

11/15, 5:20pm

OpenFlight translator for Maya to debut

Alias/Wavefront plans to demonstrate a new OpenFlight translator for Maya, the company's 3D rendering package, at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference from Nov 26-29th. The soon-to-be-released plug-in will allow opening of OpenFlight data files, generally used for military and commercial visual-simulation.

Petition to bring Jedi Knight to Mac

11/15, 4:20pm

Petition to bring Jedi Knight to Mac

Aaron Sobel notes that Westlake programmer Brad Oliver has offered to port Jedi Knight for free if there is interest and a publisher and points to an online petition to Aspyr requesting that the company sponsor/lead the Mac port.

iGetter 1.5: new download manager

11/15, 3:25pm

iGetter 1.5: new download manager

Presenta has released iGetter 1.5, an HTTP/FTP download manager that offers the ability to resume downloads, supports segmented downloading, integrates with browsers and virus checkers, has download scheduling/prioritization, and supports HTTP and FTP proxies as well as Socks Firewalls. Version 1.5 supports servers that require cookies, has better integration with Web browsers, and includes a new function for searching mirror sites. [Classic, Carbon]

"Cool Customer Design" awarded to Apple

11/15, 3:25pm

"Cool Customer Design" awarded to Apple

Wind River Systems has awarded its "Cool Customer Design" to Apple for its recently announced AirPort wireless networking solution, including Apple's new Base Station which ships with Wind River's Tornado for Home Gateways (THG) integrated development platform technology and WindNet RADIUS user access control software. The company says that THG software platform helped Apple boost the networking performance and add new features such as RADIUS, which enables schools and businesses to centrally manage user access control.

iBook recommended as holiday gift

11/15, 2:40pm

iBook recommended as holiday gift

The Philadelphia Inquirer recommends an iBook as a holiday gift for those who are not "not wedded to Windows and want a stylish, dependable, easy-to-use computer, a mainstream Mac just might be the ticket."

New Mac store coming to Pleasant Hill, CA

11/15, 2:30pm

New Mac store coming to Pleasant Hill, CA

Tom Reifschneider notes that "A Mac Guys store is being built in downtown Pleasant Hill, CA on Contra Costa Blvd. The space is empty but the signage is up on the store."

Sorenson Squeeze disabled under OS X 10.1.1

11/15, 2:15pm

Sorenson Squeeze disabled under OS X 10.1.1

Sorenson tech support has verified an issue that renders Squeeze for OS X inoperable after users upgrade to OS X 10.1.1, which was released a few days ago.

Office CD v0.9 now shipping from OpenOSX

11/15, 2:05pm

Office CD v0.9 now shipping from OpenOSX

OpenOSX has begun shipping its Office CD v0.9, which installs AbiWord, Gnumeric and optionally Gimp. AbiWord is an open-source alternative to Microsoft Word; Gnumeric is a spreadsheet with 95 percent of the functions of Microsoft Excel built-in; and Gimp is a GNU Image Manipulation Program. The $30 CD is available today. An upgrade to the v1.0 CD will be $10 and will include improvements and added vector illustration and graphing/plotting software.

ProSQL 1.0pre4: database management util

11/15, 2:00pm

ProSQL 1.0pre4: database management util

ProSQL 1.0 Preview 4, the latest update to the database management software, adds tab-delimited text imports, an integrated SQL script editor, support for international characters, and improved SQL database export for mySQL, PostgreSQL, OpenBase, and FrontBase. [Classic, Carbon]

NTI provides new Mac software for CD-R/W OEMs

11/15, 11:05am

NTI provides new Mac software for CD-R/W OEMs

NewTech Infosystems today announced that it has entered the Mac market with the introduction of NTI DragonBurn!, its Mac CD-mastering software for CD-RW OEMs and distributors.

New portable drive with USB 2.0 and FireWire

11/15, 11:00am

New portable drive with USB 2.0 and FireWire

SimpleTech today launched its SimpleDrive Deluxe, a rugged, lightweight, plug-and-play storage solution that offers up to 30GB of storage space. The portable drive offers USB 1.1, USB 2.0 and FireWire connectivity and weights less than 16 ounces. It is available in 6GB, 10GB, 20GB and 30GB capacities with prices starting at $200.

Elite to open ComputerWare store in Berkeley

11/15, 10:55am

Elite to open ComputerWare store in Berkeley

Elite Computers will open its Berkeley ComputerWare retail store this Saturday, November 17. The ComputerWare-branded store, now operated by Elite Computers after ComputerWare's demise earlier this year, is the fourth of the former ComputerWare locations to re-open in the last three months. The grand opening is scheduled for this Saturday, November 17th from 10am to 7pm. An Apple representative will be on hand to answer questions and there will be free hourly prizes and vendor demos. The store is located at 1995 University Ave, Berkeley, CA and can be reached at 510.649.2100. Store hours are Mon-Sat 10-7 and Sunday 12-5.

Clipworks 2.0 edits clipboard before 'paste

11/15, 10:30am

Clipworks 2.0 edits clipboard before 'paste

Angelo Scicolone has released ClipWorks 2.0, a new version of the application that allows you to edit the contents of the clipboard before pasting. The update includes print support, the ability to discard changes and other minor changes.

Strydent posts PowerPrint USB 5.0 patch

11/15, 10:15am

Strydent posts PowerPrint USB 5.0 patch

Strydent Software has posted a OS X/9.2.1 patch that allows PowerPrint USB 5.0 customers to use the software under Mac OS 9.2.1 (as well as the Classic environment of OS X). The updated ContentionLib and IWPrintClassDriver files allow users to setup the printer in the chooer.

Happy Mik 1.0 makes PageMill 3.0 operable

11/15, 10:10am

Happy Mik 1.0 makes PageMill 3.0 operable

Happy Mik 1.0 patches Adobe's PageMill Web design software to work with Mac OS 8.5 and later ("it patches PageMill 3.0 so it does not try to use Navigation Libraries anymore").

AppleOnline changes name under Apple pressure

11/15, 10:05am

AppleOnline changes name under Apple pressure

The Mac-only ISP AppleOnline has 'amicably resolved the issue' of its use of the Apple trademark in its name and is renaming itself MacUnlimited, according to MacUser UK.

VertiBevel 1.55: Lightwave 3D plugin released

11/15, 9:55am

VertiBevel 1.55: Lightwave 3D plugin released

Shekinah Studios has released VertiBevel 1.55, an OS X-compatible version of the LightWave 3D plugin, which the ability to seamlessly bevel multiple polygons as one, bevel with multiple pre-defined presets with easy scalability, and many other customizable bevel options. It is $150 and upgrades are free for registered users of the Mac OS 8/9 version (released in March 2001).

Intuit Canada acquires MYOB Canada

11/15, 9:50am

Intuit Canada acquires MYOB Canada

Intuit Canada has acquired MYOB Canada, a maker of accounting software for small business for $9.1-million. Edmonton-based Intuit Canada is part of Intuit Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., which produces QuickTax, Quicken and QuickBooks financial management software and Web-based products, according to The Globe and Mail.

Apple demands changes in Facespan promotion

11/15, 9:45am

Apple demands changes in Facespan promotion

Apple is demanding that DTI change its marketing for its AppleScript development environment, Facespan: "[it] has been asked by Apple's counsel to stop using the promotional words 'Visual AppleScript', 'Visual AppleScripter', and the www.visualapplescript.com domain and the sentence 'It's Visual AppleScript,' on all FaceSpan products," according to Macworld UK.

PolyPhontics 1.0 creates MIDI instruments

11/15, 9:30am

PolyPhontics 1.0 creates MIDI instruments

BEST Software Design has announced PolyPhontics 1.0, a DLS- and SoundFont-compatible authoring tool that uses QuickTime 5 to enhance MIDI compositions, offering users the ability to replace the "one-size-fits-all software synthesizers engines of popular MIDI software and sound cards with real life sounds." The $60 application can create sophisticated MIDI instruments that mimic real-world instruments. A free demo is available.

CorelDRAW 10, PHOTO-PAINT 10, Knockout 2

11/15, 9:25am

CorelDRAW 10, PHOTO-PAINT 10, Knockout 2

Corel today announced the availability of CorelDRAW 10, its vector illustration and page-layout application and Corel PHOTO-PAINT 10, its image-editing application, as standalone applications for Mac OS 8/9 and OS X as well as procreate KnockOut 2, its plugin for masking and preserving photo objects with fine image details.

Quake v1.02 improves OpenGL performance

11/15, 1:40am

Quake v1.02 improves OpenGL performance

Axel Wefers has released Quake v1.0.2 for OS X, which adds support for "DrawSprocket" style gamma fading, a new default 640x480 video mode, improves the OpenGL performance, and recognition of all supported video modes via console or config.cfg.

textSOAP 3.1 adds default font, size options

11/15, 1:35am

textSOAP 3.1 adds default font, size options

unmarked software has released textSOAP 3.1, an update to its internet text cleaning uility adds the ability to specify the default Font & Size of text, the ability to import/export custom cleaners, mouse wheel support under OS X, and additional support for OS X 10.1. Upgrades to the $20 utility are $10.

Three new Apple stores to open Nov 23rd.

11/15, 1:15am

Three new Apple stores to open Nov 23rd.

Apple is expected to open three new Apple stores, including Valley Fair (Santa Clara, CA), The Falls (Miami), and Fashion Valley (San Diego) on Nov 23rd. [update: both Miami and San Diego openings verified; Valley Fair opening is uncertain, but "likely" on Nov 23rd]