News Archive for 02/11/07

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Jotz gains encryption, attribute inspector

11/07, 11:45pm

Jotz gains encryption, attribute inspector

Thinkertons has released Jotz 1.0.85 for Mac OS X. Version 1.0.85 adds "Blowfish" note encryption, a page index window, and a text attribute inspector to the multimedia notepad for OS X.

Fantom announces 52X CD-R

11/07, 7:40pm

Fantom announces 52X CD-R

Fantom Drives today added a new 52x CD-R drive to its 'Premier' product family, which features "BurnProof" buffer underrun protection, and 24x CD-RW burning. It ships with Toast Lite for Macintosh, and is available immediately for $190.

Tech: copy-proof CDs; phone maker dumps MS...

11/07, 7:40pm

Tech: copy-proof CDs; phone maker dumps MS...

New copy-proof music discs are nowhere near as consumer-friendly as regular CDs, and some retailers are lashing back; U.K. cell phone maker Sendo said today that it has dropped Microsoft's Smart-Phone software for an operating system from rival Symbian; a new generation of displays will be able to display images in three dimensions, leaving consumers wondering how 2D displays ever sufficed, says NewsFactor.

Apps: Photologist, My Favorite Martian ...

11/07, 7:20pm

Apps: Photologist, My Favorite Martian ...

Photologist 1.0 is a $19 shareware photo management, manipulation and presentation solution for Mac OS X. It features the ability to create custom photo albums, slide shows, web albums and custom print layouts. [2.7MB]
My Favorites Martian 1.6 is a small utility to keep Internet Explorer and Chimera favorties in sync to an FTP site, iDisk or iPod. The update reintroduces Chimera support and adds a new feature, iPeek, which allows access to published favorites on .Mac accounts. [190KB]
Blue Line Studios has updated its $30 font viewer for Mac OS 9, LogotypeMaker Pro 4.2.0. The application, which helps users choose an appropriate font easily, now adds an export to clipboard feature. [1.5MB]

Apple updates SuperDrive firmware

11/07, 6:50pm

Apple updates SuperDrive firmware

Apple has released a SuperDrive firmware update for Mac computers equipped with Apple's DVD-R optical drive. The update -- which affects several iMac, eMac, Power Mac and PowerBook models -- addresses an issue where some drives are unable to recognize high-speed media, and as a result of using this media, may suffer permanent damage. The Software Update application in Mac OS X is displaying updates for some users, while others have yet to be notified of this release. An Apple Knowledge Base document explains the update in detail, and notes that only iMac updates are currently available for direct download. Note: Some MacNN readers are reporting problems with the update on certain PowerMac models. We expect clarification to this issue shortly. Update: Apple is now offering a direct download location for the PowerMac update; see below.

3D WalkAround to be discontinued

11/07, 5:40pm

3D WalkAround to be discontinued

MacNN reader Issac Dickinson has alerted us to an email regarding a Mac OS X port of 3D WalkAround, an application for home design. "3D WalkAround will be discontinued sometime in the next few months and therefore will not be upgraded to run native in OS X.  We will be replacing it with Premier Architect, which will be a native OS X application." No solid release date is available at this time.

all4DVD to intro new DVD duplication system

11/07, 4:20pm

all4DVD to intro new DVD duplication system

all4DVD will be introducing a new DVD duplicatoin system at the Southern California MacFair 2002 on November 16. It features Pioneer's next generation A05/105 DVD-R drives with 4x DVD recording speed and the ability to burn up to 7 DVD-R discs on the fly in less than 15 minutes. It can also duplicate CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R and DVD-RW discs with the push of a button. Pricing starts at $1500 for a 3 drive system.

PiXELS 3D 4.1 brings faster raytracing

11/07, 4:00pm

PiXELS 3D 4.1 brings faster raytracing

Pixels Digital has released PiXELS 3D 4.1, an update to its fully animatible 3D program for Mac OS X. It now features a money back guarantee, faster raytracing and a new serial registration system, along with a new price of $400 ($300 for an upgrade).

Blue World launches promo for Lasso products

11/07, 3:30pm

Blue World launches promo for Lasso products

Blue World Communications has announced a special promotion through its online store where customers can purchase new products and upgrades of most every Lasso product, including Lasso Professional 6 and Lasso WDE 3, with a $100 savings over the regular price. The promotion lasts through December 31, 2002.

Apps: Gimp-Print, CatDV Pro, netOctopus...

11/07, 2:20pm

Apps: Gimp-Print, CatDV Pro, netOctopus...

3DMF Viewer 2.3 is a $5 shareware graphic utility to view interactively and move freely through 3DMF objects. [1.0MB]
Gimp-Print 4.2.4-pre1, a beta release of the open-source driver package for most printers, fixes serious color errors with Lexmark printers, CUPS page size errors, page size problems with certain Canon printers, and adds support for the Epson MJ-930C. [5.1MB]
Square Box Systems has posted CatDV Pro 3.0.1, a free update to its QuickTime-based video logging and media cataloging tool. It is $275 and is available for Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. [Classic, OSX]
Netopia's systems management application, netOctopus 4.1.1, brings improvements and other enhancements, including a new AppleScript property, File Package Version information, and better font searches.

FireWireDirect debuts 4x DVD-R drive

11/07, 2:10pm

FireWireDirect debuts 4x DVD-R drive

FirewireDirect today announced its UltraBURN II FireWire DVD-R/RW recording external drive, featuring Pioneer's new DVR-A05/105 mechanism, the first DVD-R/RW to write DVD-R at 4x speeds and DVD-RW at 2x speeds. In addition, the drive will write CD-R at 16x and CD-RW at 8x as well as read a wide variety of formats including DVD-ROM/DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, Photo CD and Audio CD. The drives, available for pre-order now, will begin shipping next week. The FireWire version is $400 and the FireWire/USB 2.0 combo version is $440. Special pricing is available for pre-orders.

Schiller to deliver second MWSF keynote

11/07, 1:30pm

Schiller to deliver second MWSF keynote

IDG World Expo and Apple today confirmed Apple's participation in Macworld Expo/San Francisco 2003, which will be held at San Francisco's Moscone Center January 6-10, 2003. Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday, January 7, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. PST and Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, will give a presentation on "The Power of X" on Wednesday, January 8, 2003 at 9:30 a.m. PST.

Apple to open retail store in Emeryville, CA

11/07, 1:25pm

Apple to open retail store in Emeryville, CA

Apple will open the Apple Store Bay Street in Emeryville, CA on Saturday, November 16 at 10 am.

DiskOnKey Pro: smaller portable USB storage

11/07, 11:10am

DiskOnKey Pro: smaller portable USB storage

M-Systems today announced DiskOnKey Pro, its new storage device line that offers portable USB-based storage in a "smaller and sleeker form factor at roughly half the size of the original DiskOnKey design." DiskOnKey Pro will initially be available with storage capacities of 16MB ($35), 32MB ($45), 64MB ($70) and 128MB ($115)--with 256MB and 512MB capacities expected soon. It is currently offered in a gray hue with removable colored side panels and a capacity identifier on the USB-drive portion.

MakeMusic! releases Finale Guitar music app

11/07, 9:35am

MakeMusic! releases Finale Guitar music app

MakeMusic! has released its $100 Finale Guitar music notation application, which offers new features for guitarists and fretted instrument players, as well as file compatibility with Finale 2003, which the company made available earlier this year. It features TAB notation, advanced music scanning, instant note conversion to TAB notation, a rhyming dictionary, and other enhancements.

Apps: TextSpresso, LiteSwitch, MaxMenus...

11/07, 9:35am

Apps: TextSpresso, LiteSwitch, MaxMenus...

Taylor Design has released TextSpresso 2.1, which allows FileMaker database programmers to use TextSpresso's text cleaning and data extraction filters from within FileMaker Pro scripts. Version 2.1 also adds several new filters to the $30 utility. [1.5MB]
Proteron today released LiteSwitch X 1.1, an update to its Mac OS X keyboard application switcher, bringing full compatibility with Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar as well as numerous bug fixes, additional features, and performance enhancements to the $15 utility. [501KB]
MaxMenus 1.2.2 offers several bug fixes, performance enhancements, and anticipates full compatibility with Apple's forthcoming Mac OS X 10.2.2. Proteron has also reduced the price of MaxMenus to $20. It is also available in a bundle with LiteSwitch X for $30. [1.0MB]
Scalado has released ImageZoom 2.0, a new version of its software tool that "revolutionises the way in which images and text are transmitted and presented on the Internet." The application adds interactivity to images, offering the ability to add zoom and transition effects, edit interactive texts and publish the created image objects on the web. The Standard version is for smaller companies and webdesigners, while the Professional version is can display regularly updated information. Version 2.0 can export to Flash player or a Java-based applet.
Macromedia has posted a beta of Flash Player 6.0, an update to its application for playing Flash content. The top two testers who submit the "highest number of good-quality new bugs to the Macromedia Flash Player team will be awarded their choice prizes." [Classic, OSX]

Virtix Effects for Final Cut Pro released

11/07, 12:55am

Virtix Effects for Final Cut Pro released

Virtix today released Virtix Effects for Final Cut Pro, which allows Final Cut Pro users to apply new special effects under the Final Cut Pro interface. The package contains several all-new effects, such as Bubbles, Rain and Snow as well as a new point-to-point Laser effect that allows the user to create a glowing beam of light between two keyframable points and one that allows users to create an electrical arc between two keyframable points. It contains a total of 30 professional-quality special effects. It is available for $125 through the end of the year.