News Archive for 02/07/25

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MacHack/The MacHax debut 2002 CD

07/25, 8:20pm

MacHack/The MacHax debut 2002 CD

MacHack today announced the availability of the MacHax Best Hack Contest CD-ROM. The disc represents the compilation of "the best" software 'hacks' introduced at the annual MacHack expo. The $20 CD also contains this year's papers and materials from a number of the conference sessions.

Jikes 1.16 posted by developers

07/25, 7:50pm

Jikes 1.16 posted by developers

Open source IBM developers have released Jikes version 1.16 for Mac OS X. Version 1.16 is a sequential update to the Java compiler project, which has been in development for nine months.

Lexmark Z53, RagTime Solo reviews

07/25, 7:35pm

Lexmark Z53, RagTime Solo reviews

We've posted reviews of RagTime Solo and the Lexmark Z53 color printer. See MacNN|Reviews for more.

Apple hits yearly low

07/25, 5:55pm

Apple hits yearly low

Apple shares hit a 52-week low of $14.36 today, breaking the previous low of $14.44. Apple shares traded as low as $14.01 this afternoon, but rebounded slightly, only to remain in negative territory (down five percent).

Tech: Civil liberties, Dell PDA, more

07/25, 4:45pm

Tech: Civil liberties, Dell PDA, more

Evening tech news: The American Civil Liberties Union filed lawsuit on Thursday in an attempt to overturn key portions of the controversial DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act); Emerging wireless data links that utilize the 802.11 standard will "force entrenched telecommunications companies to remake themselves" in order to escape the current industry slump; Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates gave his company a "C" grade on for stumbling in its delivery of .Net; Dell may be preparing to launch its own handheld PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), as it reportedly is considering a deal that would have Compal Electronics manufacture 1.5 million Dell-branded devices.

Apple to focus on software innovations

07/25, 3:50pm

Apple to focus on software innovations

In the wake of last week's Macworld Expo -- where Apple's hardware announcements were muted -- a report from the Gartner Group suggests Apple is relying on innovative software to help it ride-out the slump in computer sales. The Gartner report suggests that many of Apple's software moves will help integrate Macs in small-to-medium enterprises, but don't signal its re-entry into the corporate market, as noted by Macworld UK. The report concludes that businesses need to eliminate Mac OS 9 dependency by 2004 or 2005 at the latest.

Apple resolves .Mac Webmail security issue

07/25, 3:45pm

Apple resolves .Mac Webmail security issue

MacNN reader Jason Greene notes that Apple has resolved a .Mac Webmail security vulnerability that allowed users to view another email by simply entering the unique URL associated with the email (which is sent to a server as the "host referrer" after a user visits a Website contained in the email). An unauthorized access to the unique URL now redirects to the .Mac com page, according to MacFixIt. Buqtraq also notes an iDisk and Mail.app security issue that sends an iDisk password when configured in OS X in the clear (unencrypted) via Mail.app, when it is not configured to use SSL (as is the default); however, the iDisk password is sent using the secure HTTPS/WebDAV protocol when accessed directly.

Contour/Macromedia release Flash MX support

07/25, 3:40pm

Contour/Macromedia release Flash MX support

Contour A/V has released a settings package that allows ShuttlePRO owners to use the device in conjunction with Macromedia Flash MX. This collaboration between Contour and Macromedia enables users to control frequently-used commands and navigate with the tactile feel of a control surface. The settings are available for free from the Contour A/V Solutions Web site.

Apple's pricing sends a 'mixed message'

07/25, 3:15pm

Apple's pricing sends a 'mixed message'

The Mercury News talks about the pricing backlash after last week's paid .Mac subscription and implicit no-OS X-upgrade policy announcements at Macworld Expo, noting that Apple may be alienating its own user base: "Regardless of how you feel about the $129 price tag [of Jaguar], is this upgrade a really big deal? It is an increasingly important question, because Apple has begun effectively charging a penalty for buying its software too early....If the latest version of OS X contains core technologies on which Apple will build its future, wouldn't it make sense to put them into people's hands without a lot of hassle?"

Upgrade offered on some retail OS X products

07/25, 2:30pm

Upgrade offered on some retail OS X products

Apple is offering a $20 upgrade on retail purchases made after July 17th of Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server as part of the Mac OS X Up-To-Date and Mac OS X Server Up-To-Date programs. It runs through October 31, 2002 and also provides an OS X "Jaguar" upgrade path for all new Macs purchased after Jaguar was announced on July 17th. Mac OS X 10.2 is expected to ship on August 24th. One reader writes: "So those copies of os 10.1 are no longer useless wastes of shelf space at the retailers. They are actually upgradeable at a discount. Now the price of shipping and handling on the other hand, that's another discussion."

OWC shipping 1GHz PowerForce G4 upgrade

07/25, 2:30pm

OWC shipping 1GHz PowerForce G4 upgrade

Other World Computing today announced it is now shipping the PowerLogix's PowerForce Series 100 G4 upgrade for "AGP" PowerMac G4s (350MHz, 400MHz, 450MHz and 500MHz models), "Gigabit" PowerMac G4s (single 400MHz and dual-450MHz or 500MHz models), and PowerMac G4 Cubes (450MHz and 500MHz models). OWC is selling the 700MHz ($450), 800MHz ($590), and 1GHz ($790) upgrades, which carry a 2-year warranty. The 700MHz and 800MHz models are expected to ship in 2-3 weeks.

MOTU releases beta 828 Firewire Audio driver

07/25, 12:30pm

MOTU releases beta 828 Firewire Audio driver

MacNN Rob Belk notes that Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU) has released a beta OS X driver for its MOTU 828 FireWire-based digital audio hard disk recording system, 828 Firewire Audio v1.0b1. (We previously noted the company's ClockWorks beta for its USB rack-mount MIDI interfaces.)

FileBuddy 7.2: file, folder attribute editor

07/25, 12:25pm

FileBuddy 7.2: file, folder attribute editor

Skytag's FileBuddy 7.2, an update to its file/folder utility, adds scroll wheel support, better performance, periodic checks in the Info window, and other enhancements. Upgrades to the $50 utility are $20 for registered users.

SBook5: intelligent personal info manager

07/25, 11:55am

SBook5: intelligent personal info manager

SBook5, currently in alpha testing, is described as "an extremely fast, AI-based personal information manager. [It] organizes your information into pages, or entries, with one page for each person, company, or thing that you need to track. Each of these entries can have any number of postal addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, or other information. SBook recognizes the information that you put into each entry and allows you to intelligently manage it."

Tinderbox 1.1.4: personal content manager

07/25, 11:50am

Tinderbox 1.1.4: personal content manager

Eastgate Systems has released Tinderbox 1.1.4, a new version of its personal content management assistant. Tinderbox helps people make notes, analyze them, and share them in weblogs and news sites. It adds map options make Tinderbox even better for meetings and presentations, has more powerful agents to "extract key patterns from semi-stuctured text notes," and has improved export to better create complex web pages from simple parts. It is available for $95 in an introductory offer and runs on both Classic and OS X.

WSJ: "iPod just gets better and better"

07/25, 11:50am

WSJ: "iPod just gets better and better"

Walter Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal, reviewing a "near-final" version of the Windows iPod (announced last week and is expected to be available in late August) notes that the Windows-formatted device works "perfectly," concluding "The iPod just gets better and better. No other digital music player comes close. And now, it works with Windows, too."

Flash, QuickTime plugins now 'Scriptable'

07/25, 11:10am

Flash, QuickTime plugins now 'Scriptable'

The latest versions of Flash 6r40 and QuickTime 6 released last week are now fully scriptable in Mozilla and Netscape 6 browsers.

Fire 0.31b: multi-protocol messaging client

07/25, 10:55am

Fire 0.31b: multi-protocol messaging client

Epicware's multi-platform instant messaging client Fire 0.31b, with support for AIM, ICQ, Yahoo , IRC, MSN and Jabber IM, adds support for the latest Yahoo! protocols, fixes an ICQ disconnect bug, and other enhancements.

After Dark X: classic screensaver for OS X

07/25, 10:20am

After Dark X: classic screensaver for OS X

Infinisys last week released After Dark X, an OS X-only screensaver with eight modules, including a new Flying Toaster module, "Space Toaster X". Among the modules are new improved versions of old After Dark favorites such as Starry Night, Warp, Messages and Line Art. After Dark X ($20) uses the built-in OS X screensaver engine as well as OpenGL.

HP posts ScanJet 7450c scanner driver

07/25, 10:15am

HP posts ScanJet 7450c scanner driver

A MacNN reader notes that HP has posted its HP ScanJet 7450c scanner driver for OS X, after promising the July release earlier this month.

OpenOffice.org releases new Mac OS X port

07/25, 10:15am

OpenOffice.org releases new Mac OS X port

Louis Suarez-Potts of OpenOffice.org notes that the company has released a new Mac OS X port of the open-source OpenOffice.org 1.0, a free office productivity suite: "If you are interested in joining in the work (and it's rather fun), please visit the Mac module in the Porting project on OpenOffice.org. You can download it from there. The port is exciting, necessary (millions already use OpenOffice.org), and can be perfected--and with your help, all the sooner." The latest build currently supports both print and save functions, according the company.

Linuxworld: 'take a Mac user to lunch'

07/25, 10:05am

Linuxworld: 'take a Mac user to lunch'

Linuxworld.com writes: "Apple's new rackmount server is just another Unix box -- with big implications for the Linux community. Four million new Unix users a year, that's the MacOS X promise and it's a market full of friends with whom we should be working."

MacSOUP 2.5b2: offline reader for Usenet

07/25, 10:00am

MacSOUP 2.5b2: offline reader for Usenet

English and German versions of MacSOUP 2.5b2, Stefan Haller's offline newsgroup utility, are now available online. The $20 shareware now runs natively on OS X, has support for multiple email accounts and multiple personalities, supports threaded email, and other enhancements.

Tech: Palm price cuts, AOL earnings, more

07/25, 6:00am

Tech: Palm price cuts, AOL earnings, more

Early morning tech news: Palm will announce today that it is cutting prices by up to 34 percent on five of its six handheld lines, including cuts on the m105 handheld from $150 to $100, the m125 from $180 to $170, the m130 from $280 to $250, the m500 from $300 to $200 and the i705 from $450 to $400 (with a $100 rebate with a one-year service contract); AOL Time Warner reported net income reached $394 million, or 9 cents a share, on revenue of $10.6 billion for the quarter ending June 30; and ADC developers have received the latest Mac OS X 10.2 testing version, which c|net says is the first released to software developers since Apple's World Wide Developers' conference in May.