News Archive for 02/06/06

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PowerShot A200: new entry-level 2MP camera

06/06, 9:20pm

PowerShot A200: new entry-level 2MP camera

Canon has introduced its "Entry-level" camera: the 2-megapixel, single-focal length autofocus PowerShot A200. The camera incorporates several advanced features, including Movie mode (320 x 240 pixels), Photo Effect Mode, Direct Pring capabilities and magnified playback up to 10x. The A200 uses two AA-size batteries and is compatible with CompactFlash Type 1 removable media. The camera will be available in July and carries a suggested retail price of $300.

Ircle 3.1b14: IRC client for OS 9/X

06/06, 7:45pm

Ircle 3.1b14: IRC client for OS 9/X

Ircle 3.1b14 is the latest release for the Mac OS 9/X IRC client. The update fixes a problem with long files names, improves preferences and AppleScript problems. [Classic, Carbon]

OmniWeb 5.0 release slated for early 2003

06/06, 7:00pm

OmniWeb 5.0 release slated for early 2003

A NewsFactor article notes that OmniWeb 5.0 is slated for release in early 2003. The Cocoa-only browser is competiting with new releases from Netscape (Mozilla 1.0) and Microsoft (Internet Explorer 5.5, to be released in the summer), both which do not charge for use. While the OmniGroup does charge for licenses, they claim that it is one of their most profitable products, "It was our highest-profit app until a couple of months ago, and it's still selling more seats than any other app we have. We have about 450,000 users out there that prefer us to the free, bundled version of IE. I think that's really saying something." On a related note, OmniWeb v4.1 -- a more modest update -- will be available tomorrow.

FCP user group in NY/NJ/CT metro area

06/06, 6:30pm

FCP user group in NY/NJ/CT metro area

A new Final Cut Pro user group has been formed in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metro area, and the first meeting is planned for June 18. Leading the meeting will be Arthur Aldrich, video editor and Apple Certified Final Cut Pro instructor. Interested individuals are requested to RSVP via email.

c|net: Apple changes retail store strategy

06/06, 4:50pm

c|net: Apple changes retail store strategy

c|net notes Apple's expanding retail strategy, which could include having PCs in the retail stores for comparisions. "If the proposal is adopted, PCs from one or more manufacturers would be compared with Macs, the sources said. Apple also plans to run Connectix VirtualPC--emulation software for running Windows on Macs--on store demo units. This too would be part of the "conversion" strategy, showing potential PC customers that they could continue using current Windows software on their new Macs." Apple also plans to open an additional 18 stores this year, bringing the total to 49.

Dreamweaver MX: don't upgrade to OS X 10.1.5

06/06, 4:40pm

Dreamweaver MX: don't upgrade to OS X 10.1.5

MacNN reader Varen Swaab has alerted us to a problem with Mac OS X 10.1.5 and Dreamweaver MX. "I have discovered (through my own experience and a discussion with MM Tech Support) a problem which prevents Dreamweaver MX users from being able to use their site file, rendering the program virtually useless. The message: If you use Dreamweaver MX DO NOT upgrade to 10.1.5."

MoonDock 1.2.2: display moon phase in Dock

06/06, 3:15pm

MoonDock 1.2.2: display moon phase in Dock

MoonDock v1.2.2 is a lightweight freeware application that displays up-to-date images of the moon phase in the Mac OS X Dock or Desktop. The update is now compatible with 10.1.5 and adds some new features.

Aspyr ships Medal of Honor Allied Assault

06/06, 1:20pm

Aspyr ships Medal of Honor Allied Assault

Aspyr Media today that Medal of Honor Allied Assault has shipped for the Mac, after announcing the first-person shooter went "GM" earlier this week. The Carbonized single and multiplayer title, based on the Quake(R) III engine, is set during the most trying years of World War II. The $50 title was developed by Electronics Arts and ported to the Mac by Westlake Interactive.

Virtix 'Pan & Scan' effects for iMovie

06/06, 1:00pm

Virtix 'Pan & Scan' effects for iMovie

Virtix has introduced Virtix Pan & Scan for iMovie, a $20 plugin pack that contains 10 special effects that allow the user to move back and forth between portions of a video clip. It allows iMovie users to move across an image at a constant speed, or gently speed up at the beginning and slow down at the end of the panning motion and also contains effects to hold the position at the beginning and end of a pan. Effects are included for both still images and motion video. It requires iMovie 2.1.1 and OS X. Other iMovie special effects packages from the company include Bravo Filters ($25), Echo Transitions ($25), and Zoom Filters ($20).

Web-dictionary client has translation support

06/06, 12:30pm

Web-dictionary client has translation support

Ask The Web 1.2b1 is a universal dictionary client for web-based dictionary servers. Now in beta, it adds contextual menu support, a history menu, new search methods, better font customization, translation dictionary support via Altavista Babelfish, AppleScript support and new plugins for a total of 150. [Classic, OSX]

Forbes.com: Apple's eMac 'flip-flop'

06/06, 12:10pm

Forbes.com: Apple's eMac 'flip-flop'

MacNN reader Colin Sandy notes that Forbes.com praises the new eMac as a great alternative for "those who think the new iMac looks too weird" and touts the eMac's larger screen and lower price tag.

Mr. Tides offers tide, current predictions

06/06, 11:55am

Mr. Tides offers tide, current predictions

Mr. Tides 2.0.5 is a maintenance update to the open-source application that provides tide and current predictions in a wide variety of formats (graphs, text listings, and calendars or a tide clock). It uses the algorithm used by the National Ocean Service in the U.S., which "is significantly more accurate than the simple tide clocks that can be bought in novelty stores." [Classic, OSX]

SmartDisk intros new USB 2.0 portable drives

06/06, 11:35am

SmartDisk intros new USB 2.0 portable drives

SmartDisk has released USB 2.0 versions of its FireLite portable hard drives. Available in capacities of 20GB ($200), 30GB ($260) and 40GB ($310), they have a sleek, silver-colored magnesium casing, weigh just over six ounces, and require no driver installation when used with Classic or OS X (with USB 1.1 support). Each drive ships with Connectix CopyAgent data backup, recovery and synchronization software for Macintosh users as well as an AC adapter, a stacking clip and a protective carrying case.

MacHeadroom for animated, talking characters

06/06, 11:25am

MacHeadroom for animated, talking characters

MacHeadroom is a QuickTime authoring tool to create simple, interactive talking characters as QuickTime Wired Movies--without the need for JavaScript or any other programming. The $150 application features lip-synching, closed captionning, simple interacdtive behaviors, lists of text menus for controlling characters, live character preview, and custom Images using any movie editor and/or animated gif editor.

Bare Bones Mailsmith email client updated

06/06, 11:15am

Bare Bones Mailsmith email client updated

Mailsmith 1.5.3, Bare Bones Software's $100 email client, incorporates several significant new features, as well as additional interface refinements and fixes> It introduces the ability to locate messages rapidly, based on content relevance to specified words or phrases; it also brings several other enhancements, including the addition of a new "(any address)" term to Mailsmith's advanced query capability; the ability to transform displayed messages for easier reading, and improved notification of new mail arrival via the Dock under OS X.

Utility helps manage to-be-deleted files

06/06, 9:45am

Utility helps manage to-be-deleted files

Mireth Technology's ToTheTrash! 1.1 "provides a place to put those files you're not ready to delete yet, and an opportunity to specify how long to keep each one. [It] will store the files for you until they expire, allowing you to retrieve them in the mean time if you need them, and automatically deleting them for you if you don't." A demo of the OS X utility is available online.

Kona SD gets new real-time effects

06/06, 9:40am

Kona SD gets new real-time effects

Blackmagic Design today released new image control real-time effects for the Kona SD, its $3,300 uncompressed 10-bit PCI video card designed for video editing and design. Included in the Kona SD software v1.3.1, the new Image Control real-time effects include Tint, Sepia, Gamma Correction, Brightness Contrast, Proc Amp, and Desaturate. The Kona SD now offers a dozen real-time effects as well as 10-bit uncompressed capture and playback, desktop view for real-time Photoshop paint, 6 channels of AES/EBU digital audio with built in sample rate conversion, and native OS X support with certification for Final Cut Pro 3 on OS X.

Brushfire 1.5.3: script analysis for FMPro

06/06, 9:35am

Brushfire 1.5.3: script analysis for FMPro

Chaparral Software's Brushfire 1.5.3 is an update to its script analysis utility for FileMaker Pro 5: "[it] analyzes related files, producing in-depth reports that reveal script details, errors, warning, and functional data about your FileMaker Pro solutions." A lite version of the $250 application is available for $80 as is a limited demo.

SQLGrinder 1.2.1: database management app

06/06, 9:20am

SQLGrinder 1.2.1: database management app

Advenio Software today released SQLGrinder 1.2.1, a native shareware SQL editor and developer tool for OS X, which allows developers to easily create, edit and execute SQL queries as well as browse their database structures. It supports a variety of databases (with JDBC drivers), including Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, FrontBase, Openbase SQL, Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise. It is $50 ($30 for education customers).

Diamondsoft Font Reserve Server 1.5 ships

06/06, 9:15am

Diamondsoft Font Reserve Server 1.5 ships

Diamondsoft is shipping Font Reserve Server 1.5, which adds support for Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server to the client/server font management system for controlling and using fonts throughout organizations and workgroups.