News Archive for 02/09/09

Choose an article from the archive listing on this page or refine your selection using the controls in the gray box below.

OmniOutliner 2.1: better exporting, printing

09/09, 7:10pm

OmniOutliner 2.1: better exporting, printing

OmniOutliner 2.1 adds a 'Save All' menu command, new toolbar items, the ability to export/print notes, better HTML generation and improved AppleScript support to the Omni Group's $30 tool for outlining and organizing information.

Atomik Roundtrip 1.0 brings XML to Quark

09/09, 6:40pm

Atomik Roundtrip 1.0 brings XML to Quark

Easypress today announced Atomik Roundtrip 1.0, which it dubs as "the first" software to provide full, bi-directional XML support for QuarkXPress 4/5. Currently in beta, Easypress is demoing the product at Seybold SF this week and says it expects to ship the final release in October. Atomik Roundtrip will enable users to import/export XML into QuarkXPress documents and add XML via drag and drop or by using the Atomik Roundtrip place holder technology to import individual XML elements or collections of XML elements into predefined templates. Pricing starts at $4,500 for single-user license and $13,500 for a 10-user license. The company is offering a 10% discount voucher at its Seybold booth.

Automatic duck updates ACI plugins

09/09, 6:30pm

Automatic duck updates ACI plugins

Automatic duck has released Automatic Composition Import 1.1.3, which brings OS X support to its Avid timeline importer for After Effects. It also includes improvements to Speed Change calculations, supports Freeze Frames when converting from an Avid to After Effects, and support for the new Avid DV codec when importing from when importing from Xpress DV, ACI and ACI DV. Updates are $45 plus shipping. It has also updated ACI FCP 1.1.3, a set of two OMF plugins for both After Effects and Final Cut Pro to help exchange files via the OMF format. It brings more robust export for nested sequences and supports Freeze Frames. Finally, Automatic Media Copy 1.03 has also been updated to work in OS X. This version also sports changes that allows it to recognize FinalCut Pro media associated with OMF files exported from our Final Cut exporters.

Fantom announced 10.2-compatible drives

09/09, 6:30pm

Fantom announced 10.2-compatible drives

Fantom Drives today announced that it would offer Mac OS X 10.2-compatible "configurations" of its line of FireWire and USB products. “We are very excited to support Apple’s ongoing Operating System innovation effort,” said Alex Koyshman, R&D director for Fantom Drives. Fantom offers FireWire and USB 2.0 hard disk, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM and DVD-RW drives.

HP leaves Jaguar users hanging

09/09, 6:00pm

HP leaves Jaguar users hanging

Hewlett-Packard continues to advise users that its scanner products will not currently function under Mac OS X 10.2. Without specifying definitive release dates, HP promises Jaguar-compatible drivers in the "near future."

1stKIOSK to demo k-Builder in Paris

09/09, 5:20pm

1stKIOSK to demo k-Builder in Paris

1stKIOSK will demonstrate its new k-Builder application software at booth #10 at this week's Apple Expo/Paris. k-Builder is a tool for the creation of interactive Macintosh-based kiosks and "dynamic digital signs." Support is provided for magnetic strip and barcode readers, as well as USB receipt and coupon printers. Additional peripherals such as proximity detectors and SmartCard/RFID readers will be supported in future releases. The $500 package takes full advantage of all the native 'toolboxes' in Mac OS X -- including Aqua, Quicktime 6, ColorSync and Applescript.

AdvantEdge: pro level blue screen tool

09/09, 4:30pm

AdvantEdge: pro level blue screen tool

AdvantEdge, a professional level blue screen matte extraction plug-in, will be formally introduced at IBC 2002. It includes Ultimatte's new Video Correction filter, to reduce the artifacts found in 4:2:2, 4:1:1, and 4:2:0 video image formats. Other features include Separate Shadow Mattes, Smart Matte Sizing, and Roto-Screen Correction. The multi-processor enabled software is compatible with Mac OS 9 & X and is priced at $1500. An introductory price is $1000 is available until Sept. 30, 2002.

Optipix 1.0.2: image enhancement tools

09/09, 4:05pm

Optipix 1.0.2: image enhancement tools

Optipix 1.0.2 is a free update for all registered users of the $100 suite of image enhancement tools for photographers working with digital images. The Photoshop-compatible plugins for Classic and OS X includes tools for correcting common problems in digital images. It works on both 8- and 16-bit images and includes tools for automatically improving contrast, image averaging, blending bracketed exposures, enhancing edge detail, sub-pixel nudging, and color-safe sharpening. The update adds funcionality to the Blend Exposure plug-in and includes a re-written Edge Enhancer.

Unreal Tournament 2003 to be ported in house

09/09, 3:10pm

Unreal Tournament 2003 to be ported in house

Mark Rein, Epic Games' vice president, has confirmed that Unreal Tournament 2003 will be ported in house by the company, and not done by a porting house like Westlake Interactive. "We're doing the port in-house. I don't have anything to report on the progress yet," notes IMG.

Free Macromedia seminar on Sept. 24

09/09, 2:20pm

Free Macromedia seminar on Sept. 24

A free Macromedia seminar in Philadelphia on September 24th will feature a two-hour long presentation entitled "Building Rich Internet Applications with Macromedia MX" with Nick Hippe, Macromedia's Sales Engineer. IT and business managers as well as web application developers are suggested to attend.

ODBC Router adds support for iODBC

09/09, 1:30pm

ODBC Router adds support for iODBC

August Software announced that its Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) Router has added support for the open source iODBC driver manager bundled with Mac OS X 10.2 and available as a free download for older versions of Mac OS X and Classic Mac OS. ODBC Router enables applications and web servers to utilize mainframe, UNIX and Windows databases by way of standard ODBC drivers. Pricing starts at $100.

Verbum Sapienti: English-to-French converter

09/09, 1:20pm

Verbum Sapienti: English-to-French converter

Verbum Sapienti v2.0 is an English-to-French language converter for Mac OS 9 & X. It can conjugate over 5,000 French verbs, analyze hundreds of thousands of French words and give their grammatical analysis, indicating their part of speech, gender, number and standard form and more. The price is $15.[Classic, OS X]

Server Logistics releases 10.2 installers

09/09, 1:15pm

Server Logistics releases 10.2 installers

Server Logistics has released it's popular Apache 2.0.40, PHP 4.2.3 (for Apache 2), MySQL 3.23.52, and PostgreSQL 7.2.2 package installer downloads. The Mac OS X 10.2 downloads provide bug fixes and new features in easy-to-install package installer format.

Bains Software updates two helper apps

09/09, 1:10pm

Bains Software updates two helper apps

Bad Cookie! v1.2 is a $10 shareware cookie manager that supports most major browsers, including Netscape, Internet Explorer, Mozilla, OmniWeb and Chimera. It features automatic scanning for new cookies, inspection of a cookies information and more. Cram Session v1.2 is a $6.50 shareware study tool that emulates standard flashcards. It features unlimited number of card sets, ascending, descending and random order, easy-to-read results and more. [Bad Cookie!, Cram Session]

Pre-show images from the Apple Expo in Paris

09/09, 1:00pm

Pre-show images from the Apple Expo in Paris

99mac.com has posted pre-show images from the Apple Expo floor in Paris, including images from the Apple booth.

Crop & Registration Marks 2.0 for QuarkXPress

09/09, 1:00pm

Crop & Registration Marks 2.0 for QuarkXPress

24U Crop & Registration Marks 2.0 is an $53 XTensions software that will enhance options of QuarkXPress to allow users to create different marks. These are registration marks, crop marks, folding marks, gamuts and guides marking the final crop. The latest version now works with QuarkXPress 4 and 5, offers two new registration marks and adds a new function, Auto-Apply, which enables users to automate refreshing of the view while changing values.

Weblet Shopping provides online shopping cart

09/09, 12:55pm

Weblet Shopping provides online shopping cart

Weblet Shopping is a $90 collection of format files and databases for Lasso and CDML that provides a full-featured, web based shopping cart that can be run stand alone or added or an existing solution. Included in the package is databases for FileMaker 4 and 5, fully commented format files for Lasso 3 through 5, CDML 4.x and 5.x, and instructions.

Move2Mac solution for PC to Mac switchers

09/09, 12:50pm

Move2Mac solution for PC to Mac switchers

Detto Technolgies has announced a partnership with Keyspan that will allow PC users to easily migrate to the Mac with the help of a Parallel-to-USB cable for Move2Mac. The solution is priced at $60 and will be available this fall.

Slide Alchemy: presentation backrounds

09/09, 12:45pm

Slide Alchemy: presentation backrounds

Blue Worx has announced Powerbacks Slide Alchemy, a CD of 2000 royalty-free presentation backgrounds for both PC and Mac. The 1024x768 images include basic textures and lines to shades of "Dali-esque Surrealism." The CD is $50.

TrashLater, SimpleText Compiler updated

09/09, 12:20pm

TrashLater, SimpleText Compiler updated

Two Mac OS 9 only program updates from Eric Roller have been released, TrashLater 2.3 and SimpleText Compiler 0.2b. TrashLater is a $10 shareware application that automates trash collection for user-defined folders. The latest version introduces statistical information that is viewable from the application and adds a progress bar to show deletions. SimpleText Compiler 0.2b is a utility that enables text processing for SimpleText files. The update correctly formats SimpleText files based on HTML formatting keywords, removes HTML-style comments and supports user-defined search and replace patterns. [Trash, Simple]

MacFamilyTree 3.1: genealogy program updated

09/09, 12:10pm

MacFamilyTree 3.1: genealogy program updated

MacFamilyTree v3.1 is a $25 genealogy program for Mac OS 9 & X. It features an easy-to-use user interface, native Gedcom file support, HTML export and more. The latest version is re-coded in C++ for increased speed and enhanced features.

SilverCreator v1.0.1 builds games for Mac OS

09/09, 11:15am

SilverCreator v1.0.1 builds games for Mac OS

SilverCreator v1.0.1 adds enhanced socket (online games) support, a paint fill tool, and script interpreter improvements to the application that allows developers to create games for Mac OS 7.55 thru Mac OS X: "developers can take advantage of the powerful event-based scripting language to create advanced and engaging games. Full QuickTime support is included (including Flash and QuickTime VR support) as well as a fast sprite system with transparency support." [Classic, OSX]

Bugdom 2 goes alpha, screenshots posted

09/09, 10:55am

Bugdom 2 goes alpha, screenshots posted

Brian Greenstone of Pangea Software says that Bugdom 2 has gone 'alpha', noting that "all of the levels are done and everything is working, so we'll be spending the next month completing the audio and replacing some temporary art with the real thing. We're on schedule to ship before November 1st. I've posted the latest Bugdom 2 screenshots." Bugdom sold over 30,000 retail copies and had over 4,000,000 bundled copies on the iMac and iBook.

MOL emulator supports OS X, Jaguar

09/09, 10:15am

MOL emulator supports OS X, Jaguar

A new release of Mac-On-Linux 0.9.65, a Mac emulator for Linux systems, now supports OS X, including Mac OS 10.2 Jaguar. It supports full-screen video, MMU-accelerated video, audio, block devices (IDE and SCSI), AltiVec , ADB and USB devices, session save/restore features, and multi-sessions. It is $25 shareware.

VideoCalc X calculates video storage on drive

09/09, 10:05am

VideoCalc X calculates video storage on drive

Mark Delfs writes "After reading a news tip yesterday about how much video you can capture to a hard drive, I devised a quick calculator [VideoCalc X] for Mac OS X that will do the calculations for you. Just give it the hard drive size, the amount of space being used on your drive (optional) and it will tell you roughly how much digital video you can capture to that drive."

MacNytt: Entourage to support Exchange

09/09, 10:00am

MacNytt: Entourage to support Exchange

The Swedish Mac Community and news site MacNytt reports that new version of Entourage will include full support for Exchange, according to a customer service representative from Microsoft Sweden, although the release date was not disclosed.

Apple Store opening in King of Prussia, PA

09/09, 9:50am

Apple Store opening in King of Prussia, PA

Dylan Hand has posted photos from grand opening of Apple Store The Westchester, which took place over this past weekend. Meanwhile, Peter Kohut writes about the upcoming location in King of Prussia, PA: "For many weeks now, Apple has had a posting on in the Jobs section of their website about positions for the Apple Store in King of Prussia. Last night, I got my first glimpse at the location. It is located in the King of Prussia Plaza in King of Prussia, PA. [more...]"

Sony debuts dual-format DVD burner

09/09, 9:45am

Sony debuts dual-format DVD burner

Sony has launched its multi-format DVD ReWritable (DVD-RW) drives to support both the DVD+R/W and DVD-R/W formats, as noted in our forums. The new models support 4x DVD-R, while offering 2.4x DVD+R/+RW, 2x DVD-RW and 8x DVD-ROM speed. The drives also support 24x CD-R, 10x CD-RW and 32x CD-ROM read speeds. The DRU500A is an internal drive with IDE/ATAPI interface and the DRX500UL is an external drive featuring both a FireWire and USB2.0 interface. The internal model will be available in October for under $350, and the Sony DRX-500UL will be available in November for about $430.

Logitech intros cordless keyboard-mice combos

09/09, 9:35am

Logitech intros cordless keyboard-mice combos

Logitech today introduced a new line of cordless desktops: keyboards that feature enhanced multimedia controls, advanced Internet navigation tools, and matching cordless mice. The $100 Cordless Elite Duo, its flagship keyboard product, is offered in slate gray and black, features enhanced F-key functions along with specialized navigation tools and multimedia controls and a comfortable Zero Degree Tilt low-profile design as well as black and silver premium Cordless MouseMan Optical. The $80 Cordless Navigator Duo, in a new white/silver color scheme, includes Logitech's most popular Cordless Optical Mouse as well as enhanced F-key functions and a multimedia push-button control center. The $60 Cordless Access Duo has a new design that incorporates Zero Degree Tilt and multimedia and Internet control as well as a Cordless Wheel Mouse.

Contextual Menu Workshop 1.3 updated

09/09, 9:15am

Contextual Menu Workshop 1.3 updated

Abracode's Contextual Menu Workshop 1.3 is a free framework for creating Contextual Menu plug-ins for Mac OS X. The software includes several (free) pre-built free contextual menu items, including InternetLocationCM for using Internet Location files; FileUtilsCM for setting different file or folder attributes; BinJugglerCM for encoding and decoding MacBinary III files; GrimRipperCM for stripping resource forks from files; and QuickAccessCM for easy access to frequently used folders, documents and applications. Cyyclone 1.5.2 brings Jaguar support to the company's text converting utility application for the Macintosh that uses Apple Text Encoding Converter. [CMW, CY-Cl, CY-X]

Invisible Finder 2.1 locates invisible files

09/09, 9:05am

Invisible Finder 2.1 locates invisible files

Invisible Finder 2.1 from Rage Software helps locate invisible files, allowing users totoggle the visibility, view file information, edit invisible documents as well as delete unneeded invisible files. This version offers the option to scan selected volumes at startup, displays the path of the invisible files, faster sorting of the listed invisible files and other enhancements. A single-user license is $15.

Learning Imp 1.0 creates lessons for students

09/09, 9:05am

Learning Imp 1.0 creates lessons for students

Edwin Buehler's Learning Imp 1.0 is a $20 education authoring tool and learning program that allows you to create your own dictionaries and offers several different types of tests. Users can build lessons for language learning (or other categories) for elementary, secondary, high school and college students. A 30-day demo is available.

Master Key 2.2: typing tutor updated

09/09, 8:55am

Master Key 2.2: typing tutor updated

MacinMind's Master Key 2.1 adds new drills for French and German and fixes for Jaguar to the typing tutor program with lessons for English, French and German keyboards. It also adds progressive drills for AZERTY and QWERTZ keyboards. The standard edition is $15, while a bundle with MasterSpell is $25. [Classic, OSX]

osXigen 2.0b1 adds SFTP to FTP client

09/09, 8:50am

osXigen 2.0b1 adds SFTP to FTP client

osXigen 2.0b1 is a fully featured FTP client for Mac OS X. Version 2.0 supports Mac OS 10.2 "Jaguar" and adds SFTP support (FTP over SSH), drag'n'Drop from FTP/SFTP servers to the Finder/Desktop, improved connect and bookmarks editor dialogs and many other improvements. A special promotion offers the utility for $20 ($5 off).

Script Software updates, debuts new apps

09/09, 8:45am

Script Software updates, debuts new apps

Script Software has updated several of its utilities:

• Project Timer 1.2, its $20 time tracking program. It adds a new keyboard equivalent for 'Save As', more export commands (including customization and preview), an improved UI, rounding features, better support for Apple's Address Book, an 'Activity Column,' and other features and bug fixes. [1.1MB]


• KnowledgeMiner 5.0 is an update to Script Software's modeling and prediction tool which was designed to support the automation of knowledge extraction from data using Statistical learning GMDH Neural Networks, Analog Complexing, and Fuzzy Rule Induction. Version 5.0 features integrated noise filtering characteristics, on-the-fly model validation; evaluation features for whether a model reflects a causal relationship or is noise; explicit definition of exogenous variables for creation of systems of equations, and two new data mining algorithms (Analog Complexing based clustering and classification). Pricing ranges from $65 (Copper Student Edition) to $1800 (Platinum Edition). [3.9MB]


• Easy Card Creator is a new application for creating greeting cards (and envelopes) for a variety of occasions, including birthdays, weddings, anniversarys and holidays. It supports the use of pictures, text and graphic tools as well as the ability to send the card via email. The standard edition is $30, while the $60 'Bundler' edition can create bundles from templates. [2.6MB]

Adium 1.6.2 fixes problems under Jaguar

09/09, 8:25am

Adium 1.6.2 fixes problems under Jaguar

Adam Iser has posted Adium 1.6.2, an update to his freeware popular AIM client clone, which fixes a few problems under Mac OS 10.2 Jaguar and has other improvements. The page notes that the new version no longer includes AIM sounds, but outlines how to keep the sounds during the upgrade process. The source code is also available.