News Archive for 02/01/09

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GLTerm 1.01: replacement terminal app

01/09, 11:00pm

GLTerm 1.01: replacement terminal app

GLterm 1.01, a shareware $10) replacement for the default Terminal application in OS X, is designed "to be faster, and to support more common terminal features. It supports full ANSI colors, all vt102 protocol, and a selection of useful xterm sequences. GLterm uses OpenGL and your 3D accelerator hardware to render text, making it incredibly fast."

Reader: SMTP security issue in OS X Server

01/09, 10:45pm

Reader: SMTP security issue in OS X Server

Mark Edwards writes about an SMTP security issue in OS X Server:

When is someone going to bust Apple's chops for OS X Server being an open SMTP relay? It's very difficult or impossible to make it not an open relay, and this has been a problem since version 10.0.0. A quick check of the Apple discussion forums or the os-x-server email list will reveal dozens of complaints about this problem. People running OS X Server for mail are getting blackholed by anti-spam services left and right. For some reason, Apple doesn't see this massive security hole as being important enough to fix. [unconfirmed]

Sonnet PCI X Install 1.1.2 supports OS X 10.1

01/09, 10:40pm

Sonnet PCI X Install 1.1.2 supports OS X 10.1

Sonnet has released Sonnet PCI X Install 1.1.2, an update to its $40 that enables your PCI computer, upgraded with any Sonnet Crescendo/PCI G3/G4 OR Newer Tech MAXpowr PCI G3/G4 processor card under OS X. It provides OS X 10.1 compatibility. An updater is available for previous versions.

HP posts updated Officejet G-Series driver

01/09, 10:35pm

HP posts updated Officejet G-Series driver

HP has released an update to its Officejet G-Series 4.03 driver software, which "provides improved support for Mac OS X version 10.1 or higher, increased stability, greater functionality and a wide range of bug fixes." A note on the Website indicates that any new users that are created on the system "must run HP All-in-One Setup Assist in the HP All-in-One Software folder before using the hp officejet g series."

Freeware icon collection: World of Aqua 3

01/09, 10:25pm

Freeware icon collection: World of Aqua 3

The Iconfactory has released its freeware World of Aqua 3 icon collection: "World of Aqua 3 offers not only the brand new iMac and Apple's familiar iPod, but it also introduces an all new folder design that is much more in keeping with Apple's icon guidelines for the new OS. All this plus new and revised versions of user icons at the OS X root level, generic application icons and more."

Cocoa programming Guide due soon

01/09, 10:05pm

Cocoa programming Guide due soon

Aaron Hillegass has completed his $35 Cocoa Programming Guide, serving as an introduction to programming on OS X: "Written for programmers who already know C++ or Java and are curious about Cocoa, this must have guide was just released. We're expecting it any day now."

osXigen 1.1b2: ftp client gets new options

01/09, 9:40pm

osXigen 1.1b2: ftp client gets new options

osXigen v1.1b2 is an update to the Cocoa-based ftp client, adding BEdit integration, sound effects, options for per server defaults (PASV/ACTI/DEFAULT), improved logging options, and other enhancements.

oAzium Smart Card plug-in 1.0 released

01/09, 9:35pm

oAzium Smart Card plug-in 1.0 released

Waves in Motion today announced the immediate availability of the oAzium Smart Card plug-in 1.0 and development kit which ships with "everything needed to build a Smart Card system, including readers, two cards, example files and the oAzium Smart Card plug-in." The $190 plug-in requires FileMaker Pro 4.0 or higher and runs on Mac OS 9.x and is available in beta for OS X.

IPNetMonitor adds OS X support

01/09, 8:20pm

IPNetMonitor adds OS X support

Sustainable Softworks has released a beta of its IPNetMonitor software for Mac OS X. The network diagnostic tools include Ping, Trace Route, NS Lookup, Who Is and Finger. More will be added in the future; price is $40 for the full version and $20 for upgrade.

Copy-protected CDs to support Macs

01/09, 7:55pm

Copy-protected CDs to support Macs

In response to readers writing about the lack of Mac compatibility with copy-protected CDs, Universal Music Group notes that hopes "to include Macintosh-based playability on copy-protected discs in the future," but offered no time-frame for implementation.

New iMac has updated SuperDrive

01/09, 7:50pm

New iMac has updated SuperDrive

Apple's iMac Website notes the updated SuperDrive found in the high-end Mac (faster than the one found in Apple's Power Macs): "The awesome new SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW) reads DVD titles at 6x (7.8 megabytes per second), and writes to 4.7-gigabyte DVD-R discs at 2x (2.6 megabytes per second). The SuperDrive also reads CDs at 24x, writes to CD-R at 8x, and writes to CD-RW at 8x." [emphasis added]

ATI posts increased revenue, gross margins

01/09, 5:20pm

ATI posts increased revenue, gross margins

ATI Technologies, which recently announced shipment of two new Mac-compatible graphics cards, has reported adjusted net income of $10.4 million or $0.04 per share for the first quarter ended November 30, 2001 of its 2002 fiscal year. Revenues increased 9.1 percent during the first quarter to $250.0 million from $229.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001, and gross margin improved 2.4 percentage points to 32.0 percent.

Hitachi unveils three DVD camcorders at CES

01/09, 5:05pm

Hitachi unveils three DVD camcorders at CES

Hitachi unveiled a new line of DVD camcorders today at the 2002 Consumer Electronics Show. Three new DVD camcorder models now offer both DVD-R and DVD-RAM format compatibility, purportedly delivering enhanced interfacing with consumer-targeted DVD players. The DZ-MV200A features multi-disc format compatibility (DVD-RAM/R), 12x lens (240x digital zoom), 680k pixel CCD, EIS (Electronic Image Stabilizer) and 2.5-inch LCD screen and is priced at $900, while the DZ-MV230A adds a 1/4-inch 1.1 mega pixel CCD and costs $1000. Finally, the DZ-MV270A also features a larger 3.5-inch LCD screen, Color Viewfinder and S-video input, and is priced at $1300.

Canto digital asset management: Cumulus 5.5

01/09, 4:55pm

Canto digital asset management: Cumulus 5.5

Canto announced Cumulus 5.5, an upadate to its Digital Asset Management system that includes a Palette View Mode, improved IPTC support, Server/Client Asset Transfer, as well as other customer-requested features. The Single User Edition will sell for $100, while the Workgroup Edition will sell for $1000 (and $300 per client). The update is due in early February.

Minolta offers new 4.0 megapixel digital cam

01/09, 4:40pm

Minolta offers new 4.0 megapixel digital cam

Minolta has introduced the DiMAGE S304, a new digital camera which sports a 4x optical zoom, built-in flash, video recording capability, USB interface and Compact Flash card compatibility. The heart of Minolta's new camera is a 1/1.8-inch type CCD with 4.0-megapixel effective resolution, coupled with a 32-bit RISC processor that the company claims will deliver a capturing interval time of 0.8 seconds.

Granite enables 160 GB FireWire drives

01/09, 4:35pm

Granite enables 160 GB FireWire drives

Granite Digital has debuted support for ATA-6 compatible hard disks with capacities greater than 137GB in its line of FireWire-based storage solutions. The company will use Oxford Semiconductor's OXFW911 chipset, and use Maxtor 160GB in its storage sets. Granite is demonstrating its FireVue line of 1394-IDE bridge controllers and case kits at MWSF.

Apple discloses record-breaking webcast stats

01/09, 4:30pm

Apple discloses record-breaking webcast stats

Apple has announced that 81,000 simultaneous viewers watched the live Internet stream of Steve Jobs' Jan. 7 Macworld Expo keynote, double the viewership of last Summer's MWNY keynote. At the webcast's peak, more than 16.5 gigabits per second of QuickTime video were streamed at broadband rates.

OpenLink updates ODBC and JDBC drivers

01/09, 2:25pm

OpenLink updates ODBC and JDBC drivers

OpenLink Software has released version 4.2 of its Universal Data Access Drivers Suite for OS X. It includes performance and functionality enhancements across the entire portfolio of ODBC and JDBC database drives with support for Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM, DB2 and Informix, Sybase, CA-Ingres, Progress, PostgresSQL, MySQL, and any other ODBC compliant database engines. Version 4.2 includes Single-Tier Drivers that enable direct access to backend database engines without the installation of any additional software on the OS X clients or the backend database server machines.

Blizzard to release OS X patches for Diablo

01/09, 2:20pm

Blizzard to release OS X patches for Diablo

Blizzard today announced that it will release OS X patches for Diablo II and Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. The patches are due in the first quarter of this year.

Watson 1.1 adds Package Tracker, TV Llistings

01/09, 2:15pm

Watson 1.1 adds Package Tracker, TV Llistings

Karelia Software yesterday announced the release of Watson 1.1, its $30 desktop interface to the most popular web content and services. Version 1.1 includes two new tools: TV Listings and Package Tracker. The package tracking tool aggregates multiple carriers' web sites and the TV tool displays personalized TV listings for nearly every program on every channel throughout the world. It also now supports printing, includes a dock menu for direct tool access, and sports other usability and performance enhancements.

Apple rehires Tribble as VP of Software Tech

01/09, 2:10pm

Apple rehires Tribble as VP of Software Tech

Apple today announced that Dr. Guy (Bud) Tribble has rejoined Apple as VP of Software Technology reporting to Avie Tevanian, where he will be responsible for helping define the software engineering group’s technical direction. Tribble began his career at Apple where, as manager of the original Macintosh Software team, he helped to design the Mac OS and user interface.

MacNN Show Floor Gallery Day 3

01/09, 2:05pm

MacNN Show Floor Gallery Day 3

We have posted our Expo Show Floor Gallery Day 3, which includes photos from Apple's feature presentation titled 'Power of X'. (Direct links: I | II | III | IV | V | VI)

D1 Desktop, Iridium support FCP 3.0, OS X

01/09, 1:50pm

D1 Desktop, Iridium support FCP 3.0, OS X

Digital Voodoo announced its D1 Desktop and Iridium series of standard & hi-def PCI QuickTime cards will support OS X (as well as Final Cut Pro 3.0) and is demonstrating the cards working under OS X and with FCP 3.0 at the Expo. The D1 Desktop and Iridium series offer powerful features for uncompressed editing with Apple's Final Cut Pro, design with Adobe After Effects, and broadcast paint with Adobe Photoshop.

XLR8 lowers pricing on Carriers for upgrades

01/09, 1:45pm

XLR8 lowers pricing on Carriers for upgrades

XLR8 has lowered pricing on the MACh Speed and MACh Carrier families of G3 and G4 upgrades as well as the Carrier ZIF family of processor upgrades. The Carrier ZIF, desgined for 73xx, 75xx, 85xx, 86xx, 95xx, 96xx and Macintosh clones, is now $80 ($30 reduction); the Carrier MPe for Velocity upgrades is $100 ($20 reduction), and the Carrier SSE for 6 PCI-slot machines, is $120 ($20 reduction).

AXELedge 1.5, Lightwave 3D Importer demoed

01/09, 1:35pm

AXELedge 1.5, Lightwave 3D Importer demoed

MindAvenue today introduced its LightWave 3D Importer for its interactive Web authoring environment, AXELedge 1.5, which includes advanced animation, modeling, relations and constraints, previewing and publishing features. AXELedge 1.5 also introduces the application of movie textures to 3D content; cartoon and custom wireframe rendering styles; and new import formats such as EPS and other QuickTime-compatible files. The $950 Carbon application, now available, is $250 for education users. The preview of the LightWave 3D Importer will be available for download to registered AXELedge users in January 2002.

Kona SD offers uncompressed QT on OS X

01/09, 10:35am

Kona SD offers uncompressed QT on OS X

Blackmagic Design is shipping Kona SD on OS X, "the first uncompressed QuickTime video card released for OS X and [...] features uncompressed 10-bit SDI video capture and playback, 6 channels of native OS X AES/EBU audio at 24 bit precision, and real time effects capability to be released soon." It is also demonstrating (at the AJA Video booth) a preview of the forthcoming real-time effects upgrade for effects such as Cross Dissolve, Non-Additive Dissolve, Additive Dissolve, Fade in Fade out, and Dip to Color. The free software-only update will be available in 2-4 weeks.

Architosh: OS X VectorWorks, Form-Z

01/09, 10:30am

Architosh: OS X VectorWorks, Form-Z

Architosh notes that Nemetschek is demonstrating an OS X version of its VectorWorks Product line at the Expo and that a new version of Form-Z is being announced and shown. Other reports list 3D and CAD vendors at the Expo and Eovia's partnership with U&I software to launch ArtMatic Pro 2.5 and VTrack.

Freeware 'Wastebasket' helps manage Trash

01/09, 10:25am

Freeware 'Wastebasket' helps manage Trash

Andy Spark has "written a small freeware AppleScript utility which mimics the behaviour of the Mac OS 7 Trash Can. It's called 'Wastebasket' -after the late (and here lamented!) British English localised Mac OS version. It is a very simple app which simply moves any file dropped on it to the Trash. Double clicking on the Application opens the Trash."

Multiplication facts trainer gets UI update

01/09, 10:20am

Multiplication facts trainer gets UI update

Master the Facts Multiplication 2.0 adds an updated user interface to the $10 "non-nonsense math facts trainer for students learning multiplication facts." [Classic, Carbon]

nVIDIA GPUs installed in all desktop Macs

01/09, 10:15am

nVIDIA GPUs installed in all desktop Macs

nVIDIA announced that its branded graphics cards are now standard across all Macintosh desktop platforms. The new "lamp-styled" iMac includes the GeForce2 MX (with 32MB of memory), which "delivers razor-sharp, crystal-clear 2D graphics and 3D graphics in full 32-bit color and also offers advanced 3D performance by delivering over 25 million sustained triangles per second and 800 million texels per second."

Media intros new VideoRaid RTR Ultra160 SCSI

01/09, 10:10am

Media intros new VideoRaid RTR Ultra160 SCSI

Medea Corp is demonstrating new high-performance VideoRaid storage solutions, which offer an Ultra160 SCSI interface for sustained data transfer rates of up to 200 MB/second on dual-channel systems.

LiveChannel 1.3 adds 30 fps support

01/09, 10:00am

LiveChannel 1.3 adds 30 fps support

Channel Storm's Live Channel 1.3 adds 30 fps performance and support for many common graphics cards to the virtual live television studio package. It offers video switching, compositing and professional transitions as well as real-time anti-aliasing on the multiple live video and audio sources, recorded clips, still images, logos, graphics and text. Version 1.3 brings performance increases of up to 60 percent (on a G4 processor). It is $1000 (Pro) or $200 (lite). A 30-day demo is available online.

Quanta up on iMac manufacturing report

01/09, 9:50am

Quanta up on iMac manufacturing report

Shares of Taiwan's top notebook computer maker Quanta Computer were up on reports that it would manufacture the new "lamp-styled" iMacs. The Chinese-language Economic Daily News said on Wednesday Quanta will "receive all the orders from the U.S. computer maker to produce the new lamp-shaped computer with a flat screen." The report indicated that shipments are expected to reach 600,000 units this year.

Apple continues production/sales of CRT iMacs

01/09, 9:45am

Apple continues production/sales of CRT iMacs

Apple's iMac Specs Webpage continue to list the PowerPC G3 iMac as available for $799, and sources indicate that Apple will continue to produce and sell the CRT iMacs (despite what Jobs claimed was the "death of the CRT") as its sub-$1000 offerings for entry-level and price-conscious consumers. The Apple Store is still selling CRT iMacs in Indigo ($799), Graphite ($999), and Snow ($999), and while Apple will continue to produce/sell a $999 model, it is unclear whether both Graphite and Snow colors will remain in production.

LaCie intros new 32x10x40x CD-RW

01/09, 9:30am

LaCie intros new 32x10x40x CD-RW

LaCie has announced its 32x10x40x CD-RW drive, which features a "unique combination of three laser technologies that bring it very close to the theoretical speed limit for writing to CD-Rs." Thhe $270 ofers both FireWire and USB 2.0 connectivity, incorporates "BURN-Proof (Buffer Under RuN) technology, and includes all cables, manuals, three blank CD-R discs, and LaCie CD Recording Utilities software.

LoanCalc 1.5 supports bimonthly, biweekly

01/09, 9:20am

LoanCalc 1.5 supports bimonthly, biweekly

Maxprog's Loan Calc v1.5, a new release of its $13 shareware Loan calculator, offers support biweekly, bimonthly, and monthly payment periods and compounding interest calculations. [Classic, Carbon]

OS X: iPhoto plugin, Sybase enterprise

01/09, 9:15am

OS X: iPhoto plugin, Sybase enterprise

osx.macnn.com has news on a "the first" iPhoto plugin, Sybase enterprise announcements for OS X, iDictate for OS X, Apple/Microsoft rebates on Office v.X, RealViz Stitcher 3.1, Countour's OS X support for its ShuttlePRO, and an OS X Server SMTP security issue (as well as many other reports).

OmniGraffle iPhoto plugin available

01/09, 9:15am

OmniGraffle iPhoto plugin available

The Omni Group has written and released the first iPhoto plug-in, which allows users to export iPhoto albums to Omni Group's 'OmniGraffle' diagramming application: "The iPhoto plug-in API is very well architected, and I am pleased that Omni and other third-parties are going to be able to make this great application even better." The $60 OmniGraffle application is free to buyers of new PowerBooks and PowerMacs as part of Apple's new Mac OS X bundle. The OmniGraffle iPhoto plugin is free.

StoneTable 4.2: List manager replacement

01/09, 9:05am

StoneTable 4.2: List manager replacement

StoneTable 4.2 adds a shared version for Carbon and other enhancements to its List Manager replacement for developers that provides library functions for integrating grid views within C, C++, and Pascal applications.

Toast 5.1 switches from freedb to CDDB

01/09, 9:00am

Toast 5.1 switches from freedb to CDDB

Sean McBride writes about the recently released Roxio Toast Titanium 5.1, which we noted early yesterday morning:

"They also announced however that they are switching from freedb to CDDB. Toast 4 used CDDB, then they switched with Toast 5.0 to freedb (the open source CD track title database). Now they have switched back due to Gracenote's lawyers. I maintain a web page discussing how to 'trick' CDDB applications to use freedb instead. You have both mentionned it before. The page also discusses some of Gracenote's not so nice tacticts."

MacSpeech previews iDictate for OS X

01/09, 8:50am

MacSpeech previews iDictate for OS X

MacSpeech has announced and will demo iDictate for OS X: [It] is designed as an introduction to the power of speech as a means to enter text into the computer. With iDictate, the user simply speaks where they used to type." It offers continous speech recognition, direct dictaion, a 300,000 word background vocabulary, multiple language support, and Classic profile support. It is due later this Spring; registered users of iListen will be able to download a Preview Release of iDictate for Mac OS X as soon as it is available later this month. (Also see iListen 1.2 for Mac OS 9 release.)

iListen 1.2 adds support for non-US languages

01/09, 8:50am

iListen 1.2 adds support for non-US languages

MacSpeech has released iListen 1.2, the latest version of its speech recognition program for Mac OS 9. Version 1.2 is more stable, substantially increases performance, and introduces several new features, including drag & drop support for Command Sets, automatic installation of ScriptPaks, reinstatement of the TypeKey Helper application. It also supports non-US languages, such as the upcoming UK version. Upgrades are to the $100 application (without headset) are $20. (Also see iDictate for OS X announcement.)

AutoTextTyper 3.0 adds app/doc launching

01/09, 8:40am

AutoTextTyper 3.0 adds app/doc launching

Chaotic Software has released AutoTextTyper 3.0, which adds a new "AutoDocuments" feature to launch applications, open URL's, auto-type text files and text clippings to to the shareware ($10) contextual menu plugin that lets you quickly and easily add commonly used text via the contextual menu.

Mac version of Stars Wars Galaxies?

01/09, 8:35am

Mac version of Stars Wars Galaxies?

Daniel Hoffman writes: "Please ask your readers to visit the General Discussion Forum of Star Wars Galaxies... I think the more Mac Users who reply in support of this post, the more likely we are to be playing SW Galaxies within the year."

Quake 3 Arena 1.31b3 released

01/09, 8:35am

Quake 3 Arena 1.31b3 released

Ben Del Vacchio notes "Quake 3 Arena for OS X has been updated to 1.31b3 (I believe from 1.30) There is no update for the Classic version, which remains at 1.30." ]

Opera 5.0 final for Classic released

01/09, 8:25am

Opera 5.0 final for Classic released

Opera has released a final version of Opera 5.0 for Classic, the popular browser that includes features such as cookie manager, a sophisticated hotlist, muliple download monitor and keychain support. Users can pay $40 to remove the advertising from a freely available ad-sponsored version. (Opera 5.0b3 is the latest version for OS X.) [Classic v5.0, Carbon v5.0b3]