News Archive for 02/03/08

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DealNN contest end nears; winner soon

03/08, 11:15pm

DealNN contest end nears; winner soon

MacNN and DealNN would like to thank all participants of the free iPod giveaway. Less than one hour remains in the contest that was started almost two weeks ago. No further submissions will be accepted after 11:59 PM EST; we will continue to post the overwhelming amount of deals we have received to this point over the weekend. A winner will be announced Monday, March 11.

Apple posts new iMac "Window" ad

03/08, 10:10pm

Apple posts new iMac "Window" ad

Apple has posted a high-quality version of the new iMac advertisement, entitled "Window," on their Website. The TV spot aired twice -- for the first time -- on NBC last evening and was quickly distributed online by Mac fans as low-quality recordings.

iMac shipments arrive at Miami store

03/08, 10:05pm

iMac shipments arrive at Miami store

Roger Pelgrade notes that the Miami Apple Store (The Falls) today received a large shipment of 800MHz iMac models: "There were at least three pallets full that I saw. They seem to have enough that they actually have six stacked on the floor behind the registers." Over the past several weeks the new iMac has been a top-selling product, but according to analysts Apple has struggled to meet demand.

Age of Empires II patch fixes bugs

03/08, 8:20pm

Age of Empires II patch fixes bugs

Age of Empires II: Gold Edition for Macintosh patch 1.0.4 is now available from Bold's website. This patch fixes a number of multiplayer and single-player problems reported by users. The largest feature fixed in this version is the 'Restore Saved Multiplayer Game' feature -- players can now save a multiplayer game any time and resume it later. This maintenance update also includes multiplayer connection enhancements.

PrefsOverload v4.0 delivers improvements

03/08, 6:00pm

PrefsOverload v4.0 delivers improvements

PrefsOverload v4.0 is an update to the popular Preferences Folder management utility. PrefsOverload helps eliminate unnecessary files from the Preferences Folder that waste space and reduce performance. PrefsOverload works with Mac OS X in addition to 'Classic' versions of the Mac OS. This version includes AppleScript support, support for OSX standards and an improved interface.

Free Flash MX seminar headed for NYC

03/08, 5:15pm

Free Flash MX seminar headed for NYC

Brookwood Media Arts is co-sponsoring a free Macromedia Flash MX seminar in New York City at the United Artist Union Square Movie Theater on March 20, 2002. The seminar will start at 8:00AM and run for 3.5 hours until 11:30AM.

OS X: SSH exploit, DVD Player 3.1.1, more

03/08, 4:40pm

OS X: SSH exploit, DVD Player 3.1.1, more

osx.macnn.com has news of a potential SSH exploit under OS X 10.1.3, Apple's DVD Player 3.1.1 update, Proteus 1.5 (multi-service messaging client), Fire 0.30b (multi-service messaging client), a new PHP 4.1.2 package for OS X, and notes about Maya PE as well as other notes.

Thoth 1.5.1: Usenet client updated

03/08, 4:25pm

Thoth 1.5.1: Usenet client updated

Thoth v1.5.1 is a Mac OS X shareware newsreader from the author of YA-NewsWatcher for Mac OS 9. Thoth obtains, or "grabs," news from various sources -- like newsgroups -- and compiles headlines for viewing. Thoth will work under Mac OS 9 with CarbonLib 1.0.4 or later installed. This release includes a new preferences setting for relative dates (Today, Yesterday etc.) and other "Miscellaneous" preference settings.

Potential SSH bug makes OS X servers a target

03/08, 4:05pm

Potential SSH bug makes OS X servers a target

The OpenSSH group has has posted a patch for the SSH component included in Mac OS X 10.1.3 that fixes a potentially serious security flaw in the software. According to a Pine Internet Security report, users with an existing account can abuse this bug to gain root privileges. Additionally, a malicious SSH server could take advantage of the bug by exploiting a vulnerable connecting client. Pine rates the potential impact of the security hole to be 'high' if not patched.

Proteus 1.5: multi-service IM client updated

03/08, 2:35pm

Proteus 1.5: multi-service IM client updated

Proteus 1.5 is an update to the multi-service IM client that adds relay messages between Contacts, supports multi recipient messages, offers multiple logins per service, has better stability, automatically parses long messages, and other enhancements. It supports Jabber, AIM, MSN, Yahoo and ICQ protocols.

Apple quietly releases DVD Player 3.1.1

03/08, 2:25pm

Apple quietly releases DVD Player 3.1.1

Apple's Software Update in OS X now has DVD Player 3.1.1 available for download, although the accompanying description is the same as v3.1.

Icewind Dale goes GM; to ship in 3 weeks

03/08, 1:45pm

Icewind Dale goes GM; to ship in 3 weeks

MacPlay today announced that Icewind Dale has reached Gold Master Status and is scheduled to begin shipping to retail in approximately three weeks. The classic dungeon crawl, which has gameplay elements from Baldur's Gate, offers players a chance to "hone their combat skills while exploring the enormous caverns and dungeons beneath the Forgotten Realms campaign setting." The $50 title is available for pre-order online; a $10 discount is being offered as part of the Customer Loyalty program and free shipping is being offered to US customers. It is available for both Mac OS 8.6/9 and OS X.

Tech: Another MS lawsuit, HP Website, more

03/08, 1:00pm

Tech: Another MS lawsuit, HP Website, more

Afternoon tech news: Sun has filed a private antitrust suit against Microsoft, seeking damages for harm it claims was done to its business for alleged anti-competitive conduct and the lack of Java support in Windows XP; Hewlett-Packard's Website ranked No. 1 in the Summit Strategies U.S. benchmark report for e-business Web sites; and a judge has granted Microsoft a one-week delay in the start of hearings, originally due to begin next week, so Microsoft can study the last-minute changes to the sanctions proposed by the nine states that have rejected a settlement of the case.

New iMac commerical available online

03/08, 12:50pm

New iMac commerical available online

A MacNN reader has published the new iMac commerical, which we noted aired last night on NBC primetime. (Apple has not yet made the commercial available.) [alternate link]

Final Cut usage, OS 9 dominance in Film

03/08, 10:10am

Final Cut usage, OS 9 dominance in Film

TrendWatch has published a Visual Effects/Dynamic Media report covering visual effects firms in the feature film, commercial, interactive media, industrial film/video, television/cable, and Web (animation/streaming) markets. Seventeen percent of all shops indicated that Final Cut Pro was among the software they "used most often"--other titles included After Effects (44%), Avid Media Composer (31%), and Digi Design's Pro Tools (23%). The report also showed that the primary/most essential operating platform for visual effects shops was Mac OS 9 or earlier (46% of all surveyed) with 63% noting that they have plans to upgrade in 2002.

Olympus intros DS-330 digital voice recorder

03/08, 10:00am

Olympus intros DS-330 digital voice recorder

Olympus today announced its DS-330 compact and ergonomic digital voice recorder, which includes an USB docking station for direct connectivity to both PCs and Macs. The built-in 16MB flash memory provides for 330 minutes of recording time. Other features include organizational aides for audio clip storage, three-speed playback, annotation with up to 16 index marks, the ability to adjust microphone sensitivity, and a back-lit LCD display. It can also double as a USB microphone and speaker. The $150 device is expected to ship on May 1.

Storm Music Studio 2.0 offers OS X support

03/08, 9:45am

Storm Music Studio 2.0 offers OS X support

Arturia has released an update to its virtual studio, Storm Music Studio 2.0, which it will be showcasing at Musikmesse next week in FrankFurt. Version 2.0 offers new online integration (news, chat, peer-to-peer file sharing); a new composition wizard; newly bundled Shadow (a powerful analog-sounding chord synth), Vocoder and Compressor modules; OS X compatibility; redesigned ergonomics and artwork casting, and other enhancements.

Key Xing 2.0.1: shareware launcher util

03/08, 9:25am

Key Xing 2.0.1: shareware launcher util

John Scalo's Key Xing 2.0.1 is an update to his $7 shareware utility for OS X, which allows you to launch files, programs, folders, URLs, and AppleScripts from the keyboard. It now supports .scpt AppleScripts with script data in the data fork, has installer improvements, and fixes a few bugs.

SigmaChess Lite 6.0: freeware chess app

03/08, 9:20am

SigmaChess Lite 6.0: freeware chess app

Ole Christensen's freeware master-strength chess program, SigmaChess Lite 6.0, now runs on OS X. Version 6.0 also adds a new more difficult 2500 ELO setting (only available on faster Power Macs), a redesigned "Aqua-ized" interface, a new position/opening line search, HTML export features, a rating history graph for each player, multiple board sizes, and other enhancements.

ADC-to-VGA cable offers dual VGA support

03/08, 9:15am

ADC-to-VGA cable offers dual VGA support

Dr. Bott is now shipping its $35 VGA Extractor for ADC which allows users to connect dual analog displays to the built-in video on Apple's latest PowerMac G4s, converting the ADC port on the ATI Radeon 7500 (G4/800) or the nVidia GeForce 4MX (G4 933/1GHz) to a standard VGA port. The cable, which requires no drivers or software, is currently incompatible with the Apple TwinView card in the Power Mac G4 800 DP.

OpenOSX posts PHP 4.1.2 package for OS X

03/08, 9:10am

OpenOSX posts PHP 4.1.2 package for OS X

OpenOSX has posted a PHP 4.1.2 package for OS X, which will install PHP 4.1.2 and dependent libraries: PDF Lib 4.0.2, Libcurl and Freetype 2.0.4. PHP 4.1.2 addresses recently discovered security vulnerabilities, and is strongly recommend for all users.

ImageBuddy 2.0: shareware photo utility

03/08, 1:00am

ImageBuddy 2.0: shareware photo utility

Kepmad today released ImageBuddy v2.0.0. a $15 shareware photo utility that lets you rotate, size, crop, mask and layout your digital photos as well as quickly generate contact sheets for printing or the Web. Version 2.0. allows users to save layouts for quick and easy reprints, improves integration with OS X, and includes support for Drag & Drop from iPhoto. [Classic, Carbon]

MaxMenus 1.01 provides flexible menus

03/08, 12:55am

MaxMenus 1.01 provides flexible menus

Proteron's MaxMenus 1.01 adds new features for control over running programs and mounted volumes and fixes several minor bugs identified in the initial of the $30 utility that provides customizable menus accessible from each corner of the desktop.

Free wireless network launched in Boston

03/08, 12:55am

Free wireless network launched in Boston

Tech Superpowers has launched its Newbury Open Network, offering users at the Trident Booksellers Cafe (332 Newbury Street) free public wireless Internet access to anyone anywhere inside the bookstore or cafe. The project is deploying a network of 802.11b access points around Boston for wireless Internet access--with no sign up required and no charges: "We're starting with the cafes and will eventually move into restaurants and shops, including as many of the open air cafes as we can hit."

Maya PE available on iDisk

03/08, 12:45am

Maya PE available on iDisk

A MacNN reader notes that Maya Personal Learning Edition, made available for free for non-commercial use late last month, is now available on Mac.com users' iDisk, part of Apple's iTools services (in the following directory: "Software:Mac OS X:Applications:Imaging & 3D"). A CD version is listed as coming "by the end of the month" for $5. The page also notes that there have been more than 13,000 downloads of the application since it was released on February 25th.

HP to replace powercords shipped with inkjets

03/08, 12:30am

HP to replace powercords shipped with inkjets

Longwell Electronics is recalling AC power cords shipped with certain inkjet printers manufactured by Hewlett-Packard. The plug, which connects the power cord to the printer, may crack, exposing live electrical contacts and presenting a hazard for electric shock or electrocution. Hewlett-Packard, reommending that users "stop using it immediately" upon positive identification, is offering a free replacment for Longwell "LS-7C" gray two-prong power cords that shipped with some DeskJet 800/900 series inkjets as well as the Photosmart 1000/1100/1200/1300 series printers.

Flashforward2002 scheduled for April

03/08, 12:20am

Flashforward2002 scheduled for April

Macromedia has announced Flashforward2002, its annual Flash-focused event scheduled for April 2-3 in San Francisco's Herbst Theater. It will offer sessions its recently introduced Flash MX product, including sessions delivered by developers and designers who "have been building real-world applications and sites with Macromedia Flash MX, and will discuss the details of their workflow, strategy, and techniques."