News Archive for 02/03/06

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SecureFM 5.5.4 secures FileMaker databases

03/06, 10:30pm

SecureFM 5.5.4 secures FileMaker databases

New Millennium has released SecureFM 5.5.4, an update to its FileMaker plugin that allows users to disable specific menu items, entire menus, toolbars, contextual menus, common dialog options (close/minimize) conditionally depending on user mode (Browse, Find, Layout, or Preview). It also offers control over record deletion, the abiltiy to lock records, control found sets, and other options. Pricing starts at $100 for up to 5 users.

NEC posts OS X PostScript drivers

03/06, 9:55pm

NEC posts OS X PostScript drivers

MacNN reader Tim Churchill notes that NECTech has posted OS X PostScript drivers for the SuperScript 1450 with the PostScript option and the SuperScript1450N laser printers.

SynthX 1.1: shareware software synthesizer

03/06, 9:20pm

SynthX 1.1: shareware software synthesizer

SynthX 1.1 is a new program for synthesis and processing of soundfiles (AIFF and WAVE) on the Mac (OS 9 with CarbonLib1.4 and OS X v10.1). It features digital filtering, convolution, frequency shifting, spatialization, granulization, gravity-synthesis and many other modules. Version 1.1 now supports 96 kHz/24 bit soundfile in/out and has enhanced performance of file-processing.

Freeway 3.5 supports OS X, Photoshop support

03/06, 8:55pm

Freeway 3.5 supports OS X, Photoshop support

SoftPress today released Freeway 3.5, an OS X-native version of its Web design application. Version 3.5 also adds improved support for PHP and drag & drop, and accepts a wider range of file formats for import including layered Photoshop and Illustrator 9 and 10 files. Other new features include support for transparency in TIFFs and 24-bit PNG files with 8-bit transparency masks; an updated interface with merged palettes and resizable dialogs; drag and drop support for native Illustrator 10, Photoshop 6, GIF, JPEG, Quicktime, MPEG and SWF file formats; and font-level control. Updates to registered owners of $250 Freeway 3.x application are free. A fully functional 30-day trial is available online. [Update, demo]

Virtual PC Additions updated in VPC 5.02

03/06, 8:45pm

Virtual PC Additions updated in VPC 5.02

Virtual PC v5.0.2 is a maintenance update that includes a new version of Virtual PC Additions. VPC Additions are incorporated into the main application and are compatible with Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME and NT/2000/XP. [VPC Datasheet]

Oki Data ships printers aimed at designers

03/06, 8:35pm

Oki Data ships printers aimed at designers

Oki Data today announced new printing solutions for the commercial art and graphic design industries with the introduction of the C9000 Series Edition family of color printers. The new units will provide graphics professionals with a versatile short-run color printer that eliminates the need for outsourcing and pre-proofing.

Technology columnists praise Apple iMac

03/06, 8:20pm

Technology columnists praise Apple iMac

Sun-Times technology editor Andy Ihnatiko calls the "freakin' cool" new iMac 'practical' for its innovative casing design and good looks. Mr. Ihantiko puts the powerful G4 processor, which can keep up with the latest Pentium chips for the "first time in years," at the top of a 'no-skimp' feature list. Fortune writer Stewart Alsop says Apple may be bringing customers back to the brand despite a market share that has been shrinking for many years. Alsop also presents five supporting "facts" that favor Apple.

iMac shortage due to low LCD volumes

03/06, 6:10pm

iMac shortage due to low LCD volumes

According to analysts and sources, the shortage of Apple's new iMac is largely due to a lack of 15-inch LCD flat-panel displays used in the top-selling desktop. On March 4, Ingram Micro and Tech Data -- two of the largest PC distributors in the world -- reported backlogs for the high-end iMac extending waits to 18.6 weeks and 10.7 weeks. "Combined, the two distributors had received only 1,326 high-end iMacs by March 4 since the product began shipping. When the new iMac debuted, analysts predicted that Apple would ship 200,000 or more by March 31, the end of the company's second fiscal quarter."

Lineage 1.0; massive online multiplayer RPG

03/06, 5:50pm

Lineage 1.0; massive online multiplayer RPG

Lineage v1.0 Beta is an online multiplayer, role-playing game for Mac OS X that allows players to become elves, knights, magicians and more. The latest beta fixes an installer bug that caused a failed installation with some users.

Memory Usage Getter 2.0.1 fixes bugs

03/06, 5:20pm

Memory Usage Getter 2.0.1 fixes bugs

Memory Usage Getter v2.0.1 is an update to the small utility application that displays the total memory usage and the splitting of processes in Mac OS X. The update fixes bugs and adds a preference option to customize the user interface.

.mail.it v1.1.6 brings FMP email support

03/06, 5:15pm

.mail.it v1.1.6 brings FMP email support

.mail.it v1.1.6 allows sending, recieving, and managing of e-mail with any FileMaker Pro database. The latest version of the $60 application includes better handling of poorly formated email addresses, mass-mailing optimization and improved speed.

Korean Soccer team uses PowerBooks

03/06, 4:45pm

Korean Soccer team uses PowerBooks

A MacNN reader notes that the Korean World Cup soccer team uses Apple PowerBooks. [Korean Language extensions required for reading]

LOOPS Fireplace 1.1 adds screensaver options

03/06, 4:00pm

LOOPS Fireplace 1.1 adds screensaver options

Andreas Pardeike today introduced LOOPS Fireplace v1.1, a collection of high-resolution video screensavers for Mac OS X. Fireplace v1.1 adds a preview window and a configuration panel for controlling speed and sound variables; the developer has slated monthly screensaver releases for Fireplace.

Tech: $22B mega merger gets boost

03/06, 3:55pm

Tech: $22B mega merger gets boost

The proposed acquisition of Compaq Computer by industry giant Hewlett-Packard Tuesday received crucial endorsement from the Institutional Shareholder Services. The $22 billion deal will be the largest in tech history if proponents can overcome harsh criticism from analysts. "The momentum is clearly moving in our favor," HP chairwoman Carly Fiorina said, but warns that the news will not "seal the deal."

OnDuty 1.02 helps maintain Macs remotely

03/06, 1:55pm

OnDuty 1.02 helps maintain Macs remotely

OnDuty 1.02 is a new client-server system for remote maintenance and file distribution of any number of Macs on a network: "client Macs, and is very non-intrusive. The administrator can easily and remotely set up which software to be installed on the clients, and can also specify a large number of rules for regularly cleaning the client [machines]."

Pocket Quicken 2.01r2b3 conduit for sync

03/06, 1:10pm

Pocket Quicken 2.01r2b3 conduit for sync

LandWare has released a new beta version of the Pocket Quicken 2.01r2b3 conduit for OS X, which allows users to sync their Pocket Quicken 2.01 applications with Quicken 2002 for OS X. (It requires installation of Palm Desktop 4.0 beta.)

Quicken for Mac mailing provides user support

03/06, 1:10pm

Quicken for Mac mailing provides user support

Andy Pastuszak's Quicken for Mac mailing list where Mac can find help: "Since Intuit provides no free support of any kind for Macintosh users (Windows users at least get free web chat support), I felt it was time Mac users had a place for community help."

Jobs to deliver Macworld Tokyo Keynote

03/06, 1:05pm

Jobs to deliver Macworld Tokyo Keynote

IDG has announced that Steve Jobs will deliver the opening keynote address at Macworld Tokyo 2002, which takes place at Tokyo Big Sight March 21-23, 2002; the keynote is scheduled for Thursday, March 21 at 9:30 a.m. (Apple previously confirmed that there would no new product announcements at the show.)

AppleScript Bootlogger 1.0 logs activity

03/06, 12:00pm

AppleScript Bootlogger 1.0 logs activity

AppleScript Bootlogger 1.0 is a small extension that works in the background and collects some information about your system while booting the Mac OS, logging the information to a textfile in the system folder.

BW: Macs won't make dent in business

03/06, 11:55am

BW: Macs won't make dent in business

"Macs and Businesses Just Don't Mix," according the latest BusinessWeek Online column that argues that Apple should focus on schools, publishing, entertainment, and the art industries. The article also notes that Apple has Apple has "signed up a number of software developers in India to write business applications for OS X and port over existing Unix or Windows programs."

Scramble 1.0: puzzle game for OS X

03/06, 11:55am

Scramble 1.0: puzzle game for OS X

Sphera Software's Scramble 1.0 is a "simple yet addictive word-puzzle game" in which players are challenged to find anagrams matches for the presented letters. Registration ($7) offers over 900 additional puzzles.

ipoAdress 1.0 provides address book for iPod

03/06, 11:50am

ipoAdress 1.0 provides address book for iPod

ipoAdress 1.0 is another small address-database utility for the iPod, storing names, address, and other info as small MP3 files, which can be synchronized with the iPod. It is free for private use. (We noted a similar utility yesterday from ProVue.)

Virtual Composer 3.0: QT-based sequencer

03/06, 11:50am

Virtual Composer 3.0: QT-based sequencer

Virtual Composer 3.0 is a QuickTime-based multi-track graphical sequencer, executor & analyzer designed for "perfect timewise execution of complex polyphonic music using QuickTime's Music Architecture. It is intended mainly for performers who want to tweak musical scores in ways similar to the way an actual performer would manipulate the score while playing." The $50 shareware is a complex executor-tool tha accomodates complex individual note changes, relating to speed, staccato and volume.

iDraw 1.0 offers illustration, animation

03/06, 9:55am

iDraw 1.0 offers illustration, animation

iDraw 1.0 is a new illustration and animation program for OS X. The $40 application is written in Cocoa and uses the Quartz rendering engine to produce smooth anti-aliased images and transparency effects as well other advanced design functions such as smoothly rendered vector paths, different fill types including translucent colors and gradients, object transformations such as tapers and arcs, text glyph manipulation, and much more. It can also produce frame-based animations that can be output as SWF files or GIF animations.

MPlayerPro v1.0: shareware audio/video player

03/06, 9:50am

MPlayerPro v1.0: shareware audio/video player

MPlayerPro v1.0 is a $6 shareware video/audio player for OS X, offering easily accessible controls via the dock, support for multiple playlists, a floating window, support for full screen playback, and slideshow functions (for pictures).

SNAX 1.2.5: alternative Finder for OS X

03/06, 9:40am

SNAX 1.2.5: alternative Finder for OS X

CocoaTech has released SNAX 1.2.5, a $30 file browser for OS X which features an easy to use Aqua graphical user interface, and many additional features, such as labels, spring loaded folders, hex viewer, graphics converter, create symbolic links, view invisible files, copy paths, contextual menus, compress/decompress, secure delete, create/convert disk images, open in terminal, preview drawer, launch as root, and more. It has been localized for Japanese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, French, Italian and English.

Dr. Bott to distribute Marware products

03/06, 9:35am

Dr. Bott to distribute Marware products

Dr. Bott has announced an exclusive distribution agreement with Marware, Inc., the manufacturer of the SportSuit Sleeve for iPod as well as other carrying cases. The SportSuit Sleeve is available immediately for $20, while Marware's SportFolio and SportFolio II laptop carrying cases will be available through Dr. Bott in March for $40.

Concatenate 10.5.1 plugin for Illustrator

03/06, 9:15am

Concatenate 10.5.1 plugin for Illustrator

Rick Johnson's Concatenate 10.5.1 plugin for Adobe Illustrator 10, which quickly connects line segments (particularly useful in USGS maps and CAD files) adds the option to specify a maximum angle, adds an "Assimilate" function which seeks out nearby paths to concatenate, and adds a "Connect" function. The plugin is now recordable as an Action.

Cypher 1.01 offers quick encryption

03/06, 9:15am

Cypher 1.01 offers quick encryption

Cypher 1.01 is an encryption program, offering drag and drop encryption or decryption using the government's Advanced Encryption Standard.