News Archive for 01/12/11

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Preliminary Windows support for the iPod

12/11, 10:35pm

Preliminary Windows support for the iPod

Mediafour has released a preview of its XPlay software, which provides read-write access to the iPod through Windows. The preview release software allows for documents and data files to be written to, and read from the iPod; read-only access to songs already loaded on the iPod is permitted. Future preview releases will include write support for songs to the iPod.

Google posts Usenet archive

12/11, 10:20pm

Google posts Usenet archive

A MacNN Reader notes that Google, an online search engine, has archived Usenet posts dating back to 1981: "Apparently, Google has now archived Usenet posts all the way back to 1981. There is an interesting time-line page that has some Mac specific stuff. It's a bit of fun reading about the Apple stuff on there, including discussions of Lisa and the 1984 Commercial."

Watson 1.03: Internet portal for Web services

12/11, 6:50pm

Watson 1.03: Internet portal for Web services

Watson 1.03, an update to the Internet portal utlity that offers direct access to various Web services, offers bugfixes and Canadian Phone Number support.

MS Encarta petition

12/11, 6:35pm

MS Encarta petition

Daniel Schneiter has started an online petiton aimed at Microsoft; the petition calls for Microsoft to bring its Encarta product suite to the Macintosh.

ICQ introduces new Web, Carbon IM clients

12/11, 6:30pm

ICQ introduces new Web, Carbon IM clients

ICQ today announced new versions of its ICQ instant messaging product, including a new Web-based ICQ Lite lets users access their ICQ account from the browser on any Internet-enabled computer and ICQ 3.0X beta, a Carbonized version of the client that "contains features that were previously separately available to users of the two platforms, as well as key new features found in ICQ 2001b, such as the server-based contact lists." [download link added]

Adobe to update Atmosphere w/ new technology

12/11, 4:30pm

Adobe to update Atmosphere w/ new technology

Adobe yesterday also announced it will integrate two technologies with Atmosphere, its system for creating and customizing interactive 3-D communities on the Web. Both Havok's Hard Core Physics Engine and Virtools Inc.'s Virtools Player will "enrich the realism, flexibility, animation and interactivity in immersive 3-D environments on the Web." The system currently includes Atmosphere Builder, the 3-D world authoring tool; Atmosphere Player, the Web browser plug-in; and the Atmosphere Community Server, which enables real time interaction with other users in a shared 3-D Web environment. (Adobe says it is "currently in the process" of building the Mac version for Atmosphere 1.0, which will support Classic mode and says it plans to offer native support for Mac OS X in the next major release.)

Adobe gets DVD technology for authoring app

12/11, 4:25pm

Adobe gets DVD technology for authoring app

Adobe has licensed DVD authoring technology from Sonic Solutions, which "will form the foundation of an Adobe-branded professional DVD authoring application." Under the terms of the agreement, Adobe will license the technology underlying Sonic Solutions' DVD product line including Sonic's AuthorScript formatting engine. Adobe and Sonic will work together to initiate development of Adobe-branded DVD software, and a core team of engineers from Sonic Solutions will join Adobe.

ProSQL 1.1 improves database support

12/11, 3:45pm

ProSQL 1.1 improves database support

Intelli Innovations has annonced ProSQL 1.1, an update that has improved PostgreSQL and OpenBase support, Aqua interface enhancements, SQL Console improvements, and many bug fixes from the previous release. [Classic, Carbon]

OSX: New AOL client, ICQ, Adobe apps

12/11, 2:35pm

OSX: New AOL client, ICQ, Adobe apps

osx.macnn.com reports on a new version of America Online's OS X client, new instant messaging applications from ICQ, a new OS X guidebook, and purported images of upcoming Adobe OS X applications.

RealNetworks officially supports MPEG-4

12/11, 2:30pm

RealNetworks officially supports MPEG-4

RealNetworks has officially announced that it will support for the MPEG-4 format, which is based on QuickTime, with upcoming versions of its RealSystem iQ and RealOne media player products. Meanwhile, a ZDNN article quotes Frank Cassanova, Apple's director of product marketing for QuickTime, as saying that a new version of QuickTime with undisclosed feature additions has been released to some beta testers.

Tech: LCD Prices; Excite@Home; IM Privacy

12/11, 2:20pm

Tech: LCD Prices; Excite@Home; IM Privacy

Afternoon tech news: Prices of flat-panel displays (LCD) are beginning to stabilize after a precipitous drop since the beginning of the year; A bankruptcy court judge has approved $355 million in contracts between Excite@Home and cable companies; New software makes it easier to read others' instant messaging conversations.

Universal Bluetooth access point unveiled

12/11, 2:10pm

Universal Bluetooth access point unveiled

At this week's Bluetooth Developers Conference in San Francisco Ubicom, Inc is demonstrating a Bluetooth Ethernet access point platform that it claims will cost less than $30 to build. The device uses a single-chip IP2022 Processor and can link Bluetooth-enabled PDAs, mobile phones and laptop computers to Ethernet local area networks (LANs) and the Internet.

Lipstick-sized MP3 player debuts

12/11, 1:45pm

Lipstick-sized MP3 player debuts

Digital Global Network has unveiled the MPIO-DMK, a new Mac-compatible MP3 player that is about the size of a lipstick canister and weighs just over one ounce. The MPIO-DMK comes in 64 and 128 MB configurations priced at $180 and $210 respectively. Both models include USB connectivity.

Intego updates security apps for OS 9.2.2

12/11, 12:55pm

Intego updates security apps for OS 9.2.2

Intego's FileGuard 4.1 and DiskGuard 2.1 are update to its security applications that bring Mac OS 9.2.2 compatibility, CD volume protection, a new Contextual menu to protect or to unprotect things, improved stability with FireWire and USB disks, and compatibility between Mac OS X and specific disk drivers on protected disks, although each will not start up under Classic any longer. [FG 4.1, DG 2.1]

breve 1.3: simulation environment

12/11, 12:50pm

breve 1.3: simulation environment

breve 1.3, a simulation environment for decentralized systems and artificial life, features major improvements in the physics engine, support for plugins and a significant speed boost.

QiPo 1.5.3 generates previews from QT movies

12/11, 12:45pm

QiPo 1.5.3 generates previews from QT movies

VesperWorks has released QiPo v 1.5.3, an update to the small utility that generates previews from QuickTime movies. It adds preference to process/ignore URL files when gathering files from folders, disks, etc.[Classic, Carbon]

OS X Solutions Guidebook v1.1 updated

12/11, 12:35pm

OS X Solutions Guidebook v1.1 updated

Rob Griffiths released version 1.1 of his "OS X Solutions Guidebook". The now 70+ page guide to getting the most out of OS X adds a three-page OS X folder structure overview, 10 new tips, revised a number of existing tips, and (most importantly) replaced all the screenshots with high resolution versions, so the Guidebook now prints with very crisp screen images. [high quality, low quality]

Morphon XML Editor 2.0b2 for validating XML

12/11, 12:30pm

Morphon XML Editor 2.0b2 for validating XML

Morphon XML Editor 2.0 beta 2 is a validating WYSIWYG XML editor that lets you create and modify XML documents using DTDs (Document Type Definition) and CSS. It is bundled with the Morphon CSS Editor that can be used to customize your CSS and also as stand-alone to directly create CSS for the web. Version 2.0b2 brings support support for XML Schema standard from May 2001, Namespaces, live DOM tree for plugins, and configurable end of line (DOS/MAC/Unix/Platform dependant).

After Effects 5.0 Advanced 3D Renderer Beta

12/11, 9:45am

After Effects 5.0 Advanced 3D Renderer Beta

Adobe recently posted After Effects 5.0 Advanced 3D Renderer beta, a beta of its plugin that adds the ability to intersect layers in an arbitrary fashion (with correct anti-aliasing), improves motion blurring with moving intersections, and corrects transfer modes with intersecting layers. It expires March 31, 2002.

MS changes $1B settlement to appease critics

12/11, 9:40am

MS changes $1B settlement to appease critics

Microsoft yesterday unveiled changes to its proposal to settle private antitrust lawsuits by donating reduced-price software, computers and training to schools, after a wide-spread criticism (from companies such as Apple) that the donations will extend the company's market dominance.

Xinet intros FullPress 11.01, WebNative 4.01

12/11, 9:35am

Xinet intros FullPress 11.01, WebNative 4.01

Xinet has announced the release of FullPress 11.01 and WebNative 4.01 for OS X, whcih offers prepress, publishing and design customers the ability to output PDF and TIFF/IT P1 files, to use these formats with page layout programs, and to manage digital assets via the Web. FullPress is a prepress server that combines file serving, print spooling, OPI, color correction, and other tools to speed prepress operations; WebNative 4.01 is a server-based asset management system that provides 24-hour access to production servers via the Internet.

MacPlus posts images of Adobe OS X apps

12/11, 9:25am

MacPlus posts images of Adobe OS X apps

MacPlus has posted images of Adobe's upcoming products for OS X, including Photoshop 7, Golive 6, Image Ready 7 and InDesing 2 beta.

Apple Stores: Rockingham Photos, Cambridge

12/11, 9:25am

Apple Stores: Rockingham Photos, Cambridge

MacNN reader Tadd Torborg has posted grand opening photos from Apple Store Rockingham Park (Salem, NH), which took place this past weekend. Meanwhile, Apple's retail Website reflects a new CambridgeSide (Cambridge, MA) location:

"I was listening to the FNX Morning show today and during it the CambridgeSide Galleria had bought an ad. The ad was for a gift-certifercate contest equal to your purchases. Anyway, the ad went on to say that the gif-certifercate was good at store a, store b, and the new Apple Store opening in December."

Apple offers special education promos

12/11, 9:20am

Apple offers special education promos

Apple is offering education customers a $100 instant rebate on purchases of the iBook through December 23rd. (Institutional purchases also receive $150 rebates on purchases of iMacs and an additional $100 when you purchase a 5-pack or an additional $600 when you purchase a 15-pack of qualifying 500 MHz iMacs with AppleCare Protection Plan Bundles."

Apple named 2001 Georgia Friend of Education

12/11, 9:15am

Apple named 2001 Georgia Friend of Education

Earlier this month, Apple was honored for "its exceptional level of support for public education in Georgia [and] was named the 2001 Georgia Friend of Education." It was cited for working on various initiatives, including technological assistance at each of the association’s conferences, and co-developing the New Millennium Leadership Program (NMLP).

Reader: Formac looking for ProTV interest

12/11, 9:10am

Reader: Formac looking for ProTV interest

Janne Moilanen reports receiving a response from Formac after inquiring about OS X driver support: "We are currently conducting a research to find out the demand for an OSX software for ProTV. We will let you know the outcome."

Kanguru5 in 1 USB Card Reader announced

12/11, 9:05am

Kanguru5 in 1 USB Card Reader announced

Interactive Media has announced its Kanguru5 in 1 USB Card Reader, a compact, lightweight device that has three separate slots (which can be used simultaneously) for reading 5 different media types, including Type I/II CompactFlash, SmartMedia, MultiMedia Card, IBM Micro Drive, and Secured Digital Card. The bus-powered device is $50.

Extension Overload 5.9.4 adds 9.2.2 support

12/11, 8:55am

Extension Overload 5.9.4 adds 9.2.2 support

Extension Overload 5.94 is an extensions, control panels, control strip modules and contextual menus management application that offers detail information of 5475 extensions and control panels, control strip modules and contextual menu items. It brings compatibility with Mac OS 9.2.2.

Cisco to release new OS X wireless drivers?

12/11, 7:05am

Cisco to release new OS X wireless drivers?

James Nennemann writes "I did a search on Cisco's website for OS X drivers for its line of Wireless adapters (Cisco 350). This document was just posted last Friday. It indicates that there are OS X drivers that are available although I do not find them posted yet. I would expect that they would soon be out."

Spectral Class updates OS X apps

12/11, 7:05am

Spectral Class updates OS X apps

Spectral Class has recently updated three of its software titles, including Quarto 1.0b2, a $15 shareware 3D board game; DaMaGe 1.0b1, a $5 disk image creation/manipulation suite; and Skeleton Key 1.3, a "GUI sudo wrapper."

SSHAgentServices for OS X created

12/11, 7:00am

SSHAgentServices for OS X created

Kevin Van Vechten has recently "pieced together an ssh-agent plugin for Mac OS X's login window application. The plugin starts an ssh-agent on login and makes it available to all the processes the user runs. This allows the use of the same ssh-agent across Terminal.app, xterm, and ProjectBuilder sessions (among other things.)"

Final version of AOL client for OS X

12/11, 6:55am

Final version of AOL client for OS X

Ken Drake notes that America Online has posted a final version of its AOL client for OS X. it is available for download at keyword "Upgrade".