News Archive for 02/09/11

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AppleScript Pro Session in New Orleans

09/11, 11:20pm

AppleScript Pro Session in New Orleans

An AppleScript Pro Sessions in New Orleans from November 4-8 will feature Ethan Wilde, author of three AppleScript books. The training events will be suited for both beginning and experienced scripters, covering applications including InDesign, QuarkXPress, PhotoShop and BBEdit. Early Bird pricing (until October 1) is $400 per day or $1500 for all 5 days.

SYNTHETIC DRUMS: 32 electronic drum kits

09/11, 11:00pm

SYNTHETIC DRUMS: 32 electronic drum kits

SYNTHETIC DRUMS is a $99 CD-ROM for BATTERY and KONTAKT that includes 32 electronic drum kits with more than 1800 synthesized and processed drum samplets. All drum sounds are organized into kits that take advantage of BATTERY's velocity-layering and modulation capabilities. Additionally, each kit is also available in KONTAKT format with enhanced features such as advanced filtering and effects.

Reader: Info on Apple Store in Indianapolis

09/11, 10:20pm

Reader: Info on Apple Store in Indianapolis

A reader notes some information on a new Apple Retail store at the Fashion Mall (Keystone Crossing) in Indianapolis, which is said to be opening at the end of October.

Samba Sharing Package: alternative to DAVE

09/11, 10:20pm

Samba Sharing Package: alternative to DAVE

Samba Sharing Package 2.5b3 allows users to share other directories then the 'Home'-folders and make the directories available to guest users. A free alternative to DAVE from Thursby, the update fixes bugs and spelling errors, as well as adds the ability to share printers with Windows users.

Classic Menu 2.6.1 ads OS 9-like menu

09/11, 7:55pm

Classic Menu 2.6.1 ads OS 9-like menu

Sig Software has released Classic Menu 2.6.1, an update to the $10 Mac OS 9-like menu addition for Mac OS X. The application displays the icons and names of files and folders in the Classic Menu Items folder, and allows up to 5 levels of hierarchical menus. The update adds Jaguar compatibility, as well as adds a Japanese translation.

OpenBase Devloper Alliance helps developers

09/11, 7:50pm

OpenBase Devloper Alliance helps developers

The OpenBase Developer Alliance (ODA) offers devlopers a choice of cost-effective license options for the OpenBase database. "The new Developer Alliance memberships not only give you royalty-free, single-user licenses, but also a revenue stream when customers upgrade to multi-user versions," said Matthew Renda, Director of Worldwide Marketing for OpenBase.

RestNow reminds users to take breaks

09/11, 6:30pm

RestNow reminds users to take breaks

RestNow is a freeware application that allows a user to set preferences monitoring the amount of time spent at a computer without a break. The Mac OS 9 & X tool helps prevent repetitive motion stress and eye strain. [Classic, OSX]

SmartMedia drivers for Jaguar to be released

09/11, 4:05pm

SmartMedia drivers for Jaguar to be released

Mac OS X 10.2 has rendered SmartMedia devices from Olympus disabled, but a reader notes that a driver set is being worked on. "We are working on a driver set for this particular device for OS 10.2. The Mac OS has undergone so many revisions in the past year alone it's been difficult for hardware manufacturers to continue to provide support in terms of drivers. Check back to the website in a couple of weeks when the development staff has had some time to remedy this issue. It was only brought to our attention very recently, but was done so by numerous customers including yourself."

MPCalcRB: multi-precision RPN calculator

09/11, 4:05pm

MPCalcRB: multi-precision RPN calculator

MPCalcRB v1.4.3 is a multi-precision RPN calculator that can handle numbers with up to 30,000 decimal digits and exponents with magnitudes of about 40,000,000. It features screen keypads and keyboard shortcuts. [Classic, OSX]

Haddad: OS X on Intel a bad idea

09/11, 3:20pm

Haddad: OS X on Intel a bad idea

In his Byte of the Apple column, Business Week writer Charles Hadded says that if Apple allowed Mac OS X to run on Intel chips, it would take away the Mac's edge and spark a war that "Microsoft is sure to win." Although the idea may look good on paper, compatibility issues with different hardware configurations would cause the Mac OS to become less stable. "[Apple] couldn't ensure that OS X would work as well on all Intel processors as it does on Apple's PowerPC chip. And that would mean OS X would inevitably become persnickety, too, just like Windows. Apple's reputation for quality would be badly tarnished. Why buy a PC running OS X if it didn't work as reliably as on today's Macs?"

Fink update now works with 10.2

09/11, 1:55pm

Fink update now works with 10.2

A reader notes that fink, a project that attempts to bring the more Unix Open Source software to OS X, has been updated to be compatible with Mac OS X 10.2. "The process should be followed to the t, and it should be noted that all told it took nearly 10 hours on my G4/500 (run the update all overnight, is my suggestion)."

Praeco 1.2 updates eBay auction tool

09/11, 10:55am

Praeco 1.2 updates eBay auction tool

Praeco 1.2, an update to Desideratum's $30 tool for buyers and sellers of eBay online auctions, adds new functionality to item management, searching, and bidding, as well as many more options for customizing Praeco. It adds automatic conversion of dates to a specified local time zone, a countdown of auction time remaining; drag-and-drop support for adding auctions by dragging an item number, URL, or link from your browser into Praeco; and a new independent auction window to view and track complete auction information, and place instantaneous manual bids. A 15-run-limited trial is available. [Classic, OSX]

SoftIntegration releases Ch v3.0 for OS X

09/11, 10:50am

SoftIntegration releases Ch v3.0 for OS X

SoftIntegration today announced the release of Ch v3.0 for Mac OS X, a superset of C/C++ interpreter that supports ISO C standard, C++ class, POSIX, GTK+, Win32, OpenGL, X/Motif and socket/WinSock with over 8,000 functions. Ch is an alternative to other scripting languages and mathematical software packages and can be used for automating repetitive tasks, shell programming, regression and hardware testing, 2D/3D graphical plotting and scientific numerical computing. Ch can interface with C/C++ libraries and be embedded into other application programs. It is free for academic and non-profit organizations and the company expects to release toolkits for Ch 3.0 in Mac OS X, including OpenGL, X/Motif and CGI.

Z-Write 1.3.1 word processing app updated

09/11, 10:45am

Z-Write 1.3.1 word processing app updated

Stone Table Software's Z-Write 1.3.1 brings several bug fixes and dramatic speed inmprovements to the $30 organizational word processor for creative writers. A fully functional trial is available for Classic and OS X. The company has also released a public beta of its upcoming $10 Photo Framesite Beta B, a simple utility that quickly generates frame-based websites of photos. Beta B expires at the end of September. [ZW, PFS]

Sorenson Squeeze 2.02 adds AVI support

09/11, 10:40am

Sorenson Squeeze 2.02 adds AVI support

Sorenson Media has released Squeeze 2.02 as a free update to registered owners of the intelligent compression utility for both audio and video. It adds stitching support for SWF file export (with Sorenson Squeeze for Flash MX), support for Microsoft AVI source files, improved DV Capture, improved video filter preview, and keyframe interval control.

GNUMail.app 1.03: Mail.app alternative

09/11, 10:30am

GNUMail.app 1.03: Mail.app alternative

GNUMail.app 1.03 is "a clone of NeXT/Apple's excellent Mail.app application. It uses the GNUstep development framework or Apple Cocoa, which is based on the OpenStep specification provided by NeXT, Inc.. GNUMail.app is licensed under the GPL, and the full sources of the application are available." Version 1.03 (for OS X) only supports multiple POP3 accounts, multiple delivery agents (SMTP), mail spool file for receiving mail, PGP support, IMAP support, filtering, and other features.

XTunes 1.2, X-Change 1.1: freeware utils

09/11, 10:25am

XTunes 1.2, X-Change 1.1: freeware utils

X-Tunes 1.2 is a free utility to to control iTunes without bringing iTunes to the foreground or having the iTunes window on screen: "[it] does not display a window permanently on screen, but only when you press a given key combination (Apple+Space by default). This window appears in front of all applications so you can click on its buttons while remaining in the current application. As soon as you release the key combination, the window disappears smoothly." [177KB]

Pierre-Olivier Latour also released X-Change 1.1, a currency converter in a nice interface: it displays the latest exchange rates between numerous currencies, and of course, allows you to convert amounts from a currency to another. It automatically downloads the latest exchange rates from the European Central Bank. [69KB]

HotApp 1.6 adds keyboard remapping

09/11, 10:20am

HotApp 1.6 adds keyboard remapping

HotApp 1.6 adds new system actions (zoom/change toolbar state) for the front window and keyboard remapping to the keyboard utility for OS X. The $15 shareware utility offers keyboard control for application/URL launching, system actions, copy/paste of repititive text, and other functions.

Apple to begin new Maya-Shake promo

09/11, 10:10am

Apple to begin new Maya-Shake promo

In addition to the Design Freely promo noted yesterday, one MacNN reader writes: "If you buy a copy of Maya 4.5 for OSX you can get $2000 off when you also buy Shake for OSX. This essentially makes Maya free! This second tidbit came straight from an Apple Video rep and was just approved yesterday (Tuesday) and is due to be announced soon."

9-11-01: events that changed our lives

09/11, 10:05am

9-11-01: events that changed our lives

MacNN and its staff would like to take a moment to remember those who lost their lives in tragic events of September 11, 2001 as well as honor those who served, protected and gave their lives in the line duty. The events have forever changed the landscape of freedom in the US and others around the world.