News Archive for 02/10/17

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Dell is No. 1 PC maker in Q3

10/17, 9:35pm

Dell is No. 1 PC maker in Q3

Dell has regained its position as the number one producer of PC hardware in the United States for the third quarter of 2002. Dell again captured the top spot from Hewlett-Packard, edging the competing PC maker by 3.5%. “Despite having to digest the results of its recently executed merger with Compaq, HP managed to register healthy sequential growth [..] and Dell, the perennial U. S. leader, showed no signs of slowing its relentless pace as it grew to nearly 30% of the market.” IDC said that Apple shipments grew slightly behind the market with tough competition in the education segment and that sales of higher-end G4 desktops were down nearly 30% although total sales through Apple’s retail outlets jumped 70% from the prior quarter.

Premium NHL fans get new multimedia stations

10/17, 6:50pm

Premium NHL fans get new multimedia stations

Fans of Minnesota's NHL hockey team will soon have access to a new multimedia skybox system based on Nanonation/Apple technology. Guests in the 74 luxury suites at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul (home to the Minnesota Wild) can experience interactive multimedia, high definition video, and a "personalized fan experience," thanks to new high-tech multimedia stations. Each suite is equipped with a wide-screen format Apple 23” Cinema High Definition (HD) liquid crystal display driven by an PowerBook.

Freeverse changes Arcane Arena pricing

10/17, 6:20pm

Freeverse changes Arcane Arena pricing

Arcane Arena 1.0.5 replaces the popular combat game's annual subscription fee with a new one-time unlimited access price of $30. All existing subscriptions have been transitioned to the new account system. Additionally, Arcane Arena 1.0.5 is the first Mac-only MMORPG to have a "completely open-source monster AI," allowing users to "contribute their own monster behavior to the dungeon."

DAT Optic offers combo disc copier

10/17, 5:40pm

DAT Optic offers combo disc copier

DAT Optic unveiled today ComboDUP, its first stand-alone "One-to-One" CD/DVD copier. The $1200 device offers DVD-R copying at 2x and CD-R at 16x. It can also be use as a USB2.0 / FireWire external writer for mastering or authoring on the Mac, Windows and Linux platforms.

Heuris ships Xtractor X

10/17, 5:30pm

Heuris ships Xtractor X

Heuris today announced that it is now shipping copies of the Mac OS X version of its 'Xtractor' MPEG software. Xtractor X ($150) can be used to extract, or "rip," audio and video files from unencrypted DVDs. Users can demultiplex and extract elementary streams from: MPEG 1 system streams, MPEG 2 program streams, and MPEG 2 transport streams (including HDTV streams recorded with a DTV decoder card).

New book helps transition to FCP

10/17, 4:55pm

New book helps transition to FCP

A new book called 'Final Cut Pro for Avid Editors' hopes to ease the transition to Apple Final Cut Pro for current Avid Media Composer users. "It used to be that you had to know Avid Media Composer to edit Hollywood-style film and videos. Now [...] you need to know Media Composer and Apple's Final Cut Pro to stay marketable." The $30 book by Diana Weynand doesn't "waste time" going over standard editing basics, but instead focuses on getting the "same job done in Final Cut Pro as you did in Media Composer."

Pioneer upgrades SuperDrive speeds

10/17, 3:25pm

Pioneer upgrades SuperDrive speeds

Pioneer today announced its new DVR-A05 "SuperDrive", a DVD-R/RW and CD-R/RW combination drive. The fifth generation drive doubles writing performance with 4X DVD-R, 2X DVD-RW, 16X CD-R and 8X CD-RW capabilities. The new 4X DVD-R recording speed translates into approximately 15 minutes to fully record a high-speed 4.7 GB DVD-R disc. It is due in November for $300.

CNN tech anchor converts to Mac

10/17, 3:15pm

CNN tech anchor converts to Mac

CNN technology anchor Renay San Miguel talks about his recent Mac conversion, after he replaced his Sony Vaio with a Titanium PowerBook: "I had been previously scared off buying an Apple because of the lack of application software and the prices, which were higher than many PCs. And how intuitive indeed was the famously intuitive Mac operating system?"

Apps: Mac2Phone, Bugdet, PrefsOverload...

10/17, 2:25pm

Apps: Mac2Phone, Bugdet, PrefsOverload...

Mac2Phone offers free phone calls to other PC/Mac users over the Internet and low cost calls between Mac and regular home phones: "Now calls between endpoints in our network are free of charge. In the long run we will find a business model where our customers just pay a little flat rate (less than 20U$) and then they can talk as long as they want to anybody worldwide in the entire network regardless of the devices they are using."
Budget 3.2 for Mac OS X is a $25 personal finance application designed to track income and expenses and also provides checkbook management functions. Version 3.2 features user-defined accounts that can be grouped and rearranged on screen easily, extensive data backup options, and improved statistics display for both single accounts and groups. [1.5MB]
Waterfall Software has updated its $10 shareware font viewing program for OS X, Granite 1.2, adding a styled text identifier, an advanced search feature, and other bug fixes. [916KB]
Angelo Scicolone's PrefsOverload 5.1.2 brings added stability under Jaguar and other improvements to the $15 shareware preferences manager. [2.9MB]
NewsHunter 2.0.7 is a free update to Parker Software's $50 usenet newsgroup utility. It adds the ability to automatically clear decoded files, a compact database command, and other bug fixes. It is available with ArcherPro for $25 through the end of the month. [1.9MB]
Magellan Pro 1.4.1 has faster decoding of all languages especially in Mac OS X, support for Address Book form of mail addresses, improved spamming dictionaries, and other improvements to the $80 email management application with spam filtering. automatic forwarding, automatic reply based on message content, and other functions. [Classic, OSX]

Analyst lowers Apple EPS based on outlook

10/17, 1:15pm

Analyst lowers Apple EPS based on outlook

Banc of America Securities today lowered its 2003 earnings per share estimate on Apple, after Apple yesterday said that fiscal first quarter results ending December would show a slight revenue increase from the September quarter and a slight profit, according to Reuters: "Both are well below what we were expecting. We had projected a 14 percent quarter over quarter increase in revenue with earnings per share of 7 cents," analyst Joel Wagonfeld said in a research note. Banc of America lowered its first quarter earnings per share estimate to 2 cents on revenues of $1.5 billion and fiscal year earnings per share estimate to 23 cents from 38 cents.

Apple snubs IDG, declines to go to Boston

10/17, 12:15pm

Apple snubs IDG, declines to go to Boston

Apple today said it would not attend Macworld Expo 2004 in Boston (after the official announcement came today) and that it would reevaluate its plans to attend Macworld Expo New York next year, although it would continue support the West Coast Expo in San Francisco. MacNN was forwarded a carefully worded Apple statement submitted to select media outlets: "Today IDG announced plans to move Macworld New York to Boston in July of 2004. Apple disagrees with this decision, and will not be participating in Macworld Boston. Since IDG is no longer investing in New York, we now need to re-evaluate our participation in Macworld New York 2003. Apple will continue to participate in Macworld San Francisco in January."

iBrotha: short film on Mac obsession

10/17, 12:05pm

iBrotha: short film on Mac obsession

The short film iBrotha is an independent production about a young man so obsessed with Macs he becomes a Malcolm X-like revolutionary, fighting computer bigotry -- by any means necessary, according to Wired News. "It's about that whole religious fervor that grabs Mac users the way it doesn't with users of other platforms," said writer/director Jake Barnes, who described himself as a "recovering Mac addict."

Macworld Expo officially moves to Boston

10/17, 11:30am

Macworld Expo officially moves to Boston

IDG today announced that Macworld Expo 2004 will take place at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) from July 12-15, 2004. The tradeshow, which drew more than 58,000 attendees in July 2002 and is the world's most comprehensive Mac OS event, will remain at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in July 2003 before becoming the first event in Boston's newest convention center the following year. The Expo spent 13 of its 18 years in Boston, before outgrowing available space distributed among three convention facilities and moved to New York in 1998.

Apple offers free copy of Jaguar to educators

10/17, 9:55am

Apple offers free copy of Jaguar to educators

Apple is offering a free copy of Mac OS X v10.2 Jaguar to "every K-12 teacher in the United States" with its new X for Teachers initiative. Eligible K-12 teachers will receive a complimentary (not for resale) copy of Mac OS X v10.2 and a "Getting Started with Mac OS X" self-paced training CD. The offer runs through December 31, 2001. Apple is also offering a similar program in Canada, which begins October 24 and also runs through the end of the year.

Apple posts net loss, conference call details

10/17, 9:40am

Apple posts net loss, conference call details

Apple yesterday posted a net loss of $45 million after several one-time charges, but found success in its growing retail division, which was detailed in the 4th Quarter Conference Call. (Yesterday, we also noted Microsoft's Office updaters for various security and OS X issues as well as Apple's new low-end iMac price, ATI's updated drivers for Jaguar, and shipment of Discreet's Cleaner 6.)

Apps: iSync Uninstall, QiPo, JavaScript AE...

10/17, 9:30am

Apps: iSync Uninstall, QiPo, JavaScript AE...

Marc Moini has released Startup Doubler 2.7.2, an update to his $20 software acceleration utility that streamlines loading of Extensions, Control Panels, Startup Items and the Finder to improve startup times. It fixes a Virtual Memory-related startup freeze that affected some Mac OS 9.2.1 and 9.2.2 systems. [116KB]
Apple's iSync Uninstall 1.0 will remove files associated with the use of iSync Beta software: "This includes the main application as well as libraries, frameworks, installation receipts and user-associated files (Preferences, SyncServices data, etc...). Files related to the use of HotSync software within iSync will also be removed." [564KB]
Groundlevel's Drumbeat 1.6 file-sharing software for Macintosh is now fully OS X Native. It sports improved performance, increased Download success, the ability to see your file's place in the Remote Queue and follow your file through the Queue, a New History Menu which saves your previous Search Results, new options to Restart a stalled Download/Upload, and many other new features. The software also features parental controls, a built-in player, and intelligent file grouping. It is a free upgrade to the $30 utility. A 15-day demo is available. [Classic, OSX]
VesperWorks has released QiPo 1.6.0, an update to the $10 utility that generates previews from QuickTime movies. It adds Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar compatibility, speed and stability enhancements under both Classic and OS X, several bug fixes, and OS X-specific visual enhancements. [Classic, OSX]
Friedrich Munch has updated his two JavaScript plugins for Adobe After Effects, which allow for After Effects to be fully scripted and allows users to write their own effects. The update fixes a loading problem occurring on Mac OS X that "was severely limiting the demo version." The plugin bundle is $300. [889KB]

Wacom offers new software bundles for tablets

10/17, 9:10am

Wacom offers new software bundles for tablets

Wacom has announced new software bundles with its tablets, including its Graphire2 Bundle, which includes Photoshop Elements 1.0, procreate Painter Classic ("new limited edition of Painter 7"), and penPalette ("selectively apply one of 8 digital enhancement filters"); Intuos2 bundle, which includes Photoshop Elements 2.0 (4x5, 6x8 tablets only), procreate Painter Classic, penPalette, and Wacom Brushes 1.0; and its Cintiq bundle, which offers procreate Painter Classic, penPalette, and Wacom Brushes 1.0.

Bookends 7.2.4 for bibliography/reference

10/17, 9:00am

Bookends 7.2.4 for bibliography/reference

Sonny Software's Bookends 7.2.4 is an update to the Mac-only bibliography/reference and information management system for professionals and students. Version 7.2.4 adds a paste without styles option, drag & drop support from the Finder, expanded formatting options, more flexible import filters, and improved search function. The $100 application is available for $70 to students and as a $70 cross-grade to EndNote users. [Classic, OSX]

ABSplus backup compatible with Jaguar

10/17, 8:55am

ABSplus backup compatible with Jaguar

CMS Peripherals today announced its ABSplus backup solution is now compatible with Mac OS X v10.2 Jaguar, allowing users to boot into Mac OS X v10.2 with a single keystroke. ABSplus provides a native file format backup, including folder/file ownership and permissions and can now execute an incremental backup via AppleScript, without interruption from dialog boxes, using preset ABSSettings. The new AppleScript support enables a wide variety of possibilities from single-machine scheduled backup to server backup when processes must be started and stopped around backup activity. The pocket-sized ABSplus is available for the Macintosh in capacities of 20GB, 30GB, 40GB and 60GB at a starting price of $300. The ABSplus for Desktops is currently in capacities of 40GB, 80GB, 120GB and 160GB startomg at $300.

Sonnet/all4DVD offer iMac upgrade pack

10/17, 12:05am

Sonnet/all4DVD offer iMac upgrade pack

Sonnet Technologies and all4DVD are offering a new iMac enhancement bundle that consists of a Sonnet HARMONi G3 500MHz/FireWire upgrade card and a 7200RPM all4DVD FireDrivePlus 80GB External FireWire hard drive. The bundle, which works with 233-333MHz G3 iMac models sells for $450. The FireDrivePlus is "ideal for capturing, editing, and storing audio, video, and image files," and is fully compatible with Sonnet HARMONi and older iMacs using either Mac OS 9 or OS X.