News Archive for 02/11/14

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'Alpha' text editor revived by SF developer

11/14, 8:05pm

'Alpha' text editor revived by SF developer

Alpha8 8.0b5 is the fifth public beta release of a new version of the popular "Alpha" text editor, originally created by developer P. Keleher. "The biggest new feature in this release is the move to Tcl 8.4.x, resulting in important performance benefits for many operations." A test version of Alpha for Mac OS X is also in development by Source Forge programmers, but is not currently available to the public.

Reader: MS uses Macs in Tablet promo

11/14, 5:35pm

Reader: MS uses Macs in Tablet promo

One observant MacNN reader points out that Microsoft's latest Tablet PC promotional material features a mid-nineties 7xxx/8xxx series Apple Macintosh. Jason Botts notes that an overview demo, found on the Tablet PC Web site, shows an older Power Mac computer -- possibly obtained from a stock image bank -- with Windows XP superimposed on the display. The Tablet PC platform is not Mac-compatible.

Tech: W3C drops royalty plan, Dell earnings

11/14, 5:25pm

Tech: W3C drops royalty plan, Dell earnings

The W3C Internet standards body has decided to drop a controversial proposal that would have allowed patent holders to charge royalties on technology used in Web standards; a recent Microsoft internal memo about open-source software makes it clear that the software giant fears Linux, according to NewsFactor; Dell today announced that third-quarter profits rose 31 percent, as it gained market share.

Apps: CodeWarrior, LetterWorks, FileSync

11/14, 4:15pm

Apps: CodeWarrior, LetterWorks, FileSync

Metrowerks' CodeWarrior 8.3 is a maintenance release of MSL, Debugger, IDE, and Compilers and Command Line Tools: "After installing we strongly recommend that you rebuild all of your pre-compiled headers and libraries to take full advantage of the patched components." [28.8MB]
LetterWorks is a new application for "writing quality letters with ease and style. [It] lets the author focus on content while layout, formatting and default text are determined by a predefined stationery. In addition, LetterWorks automates the process of filling in the receiver's address!" It is available for Mac OS X 10.2 for $30. [1.3MB]
The Omni Group has released OmniDiskSweeper 1.3.1, which adds compatibility with Mac OS X 10.2 "Jaguar" and also brings improvements to the Software Update function. The $15 utility can find and delete "big, useless files and thus making space on your hard disks." [1MB]
Nemesys Software today released File Synchronization 1.0, a new utility for Mac OS X that has the ability to synchronize multiple pairs of folders or files. A 30-day demo of the $9 shareware is available online. [2.2MB]

Apple offers training materials to teachers

11/14, 3:45pm

Apple offers training materials to teachers

Business Week talks about Apple's education sales initiatives, noting that it is pushing "training" as an integrated package. (Apple is currently exhibiting at the National School Boards Association’s 16th Annual Technology and Learning Conference, which runs from November 13-15 in Dallas).

"[Apple] has persuaded the teachers' college at the University of Texas, for example, to require every student to buy an iBook and learn how to use it. The university, with Apple's encouragement, has incorporated into its curriculum instruction in how to use laptops to do everything from create assignments to control and monitor the laptops of students. From an OS X-equipped iBook, teachers can turn Internet access on and off, and see what students are working on."

"Apple is pushing training in primary and secondary schools, as well. Today, a day's lessons for teachers comes as part of a package sale to schools. Apple isn't just selling iBooks, it's teaching educators how to use them for everything from math instruction to making movies. Schools can buy a prepackaged cart of 10 iBooks, each preassembled with curriculum software and connected wirelessly through an Airport wireless base station on the cart. The teacher rolls the cart into the classroom, distributes the iBooks, and then packs it all up when the lesson is over. No mess, no fuss."

Belkin posts Mac drivers for game controller

11/14, 3:30pm

Belkin posts Mac drivers for game controller

Belkin has released Mac drivers for its USB-based game controller. The $30 Nostromo n50 SpeedPad is designed for for games that use a keyboard and mouse, offering 10 programmable buttons, a programmable 8-way directional pad and throttle wheel. The Nostromo Array Programming Software (NAPS) allows users to program the SpeedPad with up to 57 functions. Drivers are available for both Mac OS 9 and OS X. (The online price is $35).

Apps: TextureMagic, Myster, Macaroni...

11/14, 1:35pm

Apps: TextureMagic, Myster, Macaroni...

ARTIS Software today released TextureMagic 1.4, an OS X-compatible version of its tool for creating and editing seamlessly tiling textures on the Macintosh. The $40 utility can create textures from scratch or convert photos of surfaces into seamless textures. A Pro version with 250 royalty-free textures on CD-ROM is $80. [2.1MB]
Key Xing 2.5 is a $7 shareware utility for OS X, which allows you to launch files,programs, folders, URLs, and AppleScripts from the keyboard. Version 2.5 adds a contextual menu plugin, an option to paste text into other programs, an improved UI, and new shortcuts such as force quit and connect to server. [780KB]
Myster PR5 brings OS X-related enhancements to the Java-based file sharing utility that allows you to share your files with others and download files being shared by others on the Myster network. [Classic, OSX]
Macaroni 1.1 is an update to the utility handles regular maintenance for Mac OS X's Unix core, adding new scheduling features such as the ability to run only during system idle time.A 35-day trial of the $8 shareware is available. [1.1MB]
eClick 1.2.2 brings cross-platform file compatibility to the $25 shareware that creates button graphics for web sites and presentations: "[it] reduces the button creation process to 6 steps, from selecting a button's style, size, color, shadow and label to choosing its final output file format. eClick includes over 900 button styles." [1.2MB]
Colourfull Creations has released Code39 Class for REALbasic, which offers developers to add put bar codes in their development projects. Code39 currently supports Code 39 and Extended Code 39 Bar Coding. It is available for $10 ($25 with source-code). [Classic, OSX]

Apple debuts new Switch ad on TV

11/14, 1:25pm

Apple debuts new Switch ad on TV

Several MacNN readers note a new Apple Switch ad on US primetime television: "Didn't hear about anywhere else, so I figured I'd mention it. I am watching The West Wing and a new Celeb Switch ad aired, featuring Yo Yo Ma. Couldn't see any changes on Apple's Switch site." Update: Apple has posted Yo Yo Ma's switch ad. His switch story is also available.

Modularing 3.0 music app coming to Mac OS X

11/14, 1:15pm

Modularing 3.0 music app coming to Mac OS X

Mil productions today announced it will release Modularing 3.0 for Mac OS X at MacExpo next week in London (November 21-23). The modular music system features, full MIDI support, with audio synthesizers, sampler, controllers and many different sequencers. It can run as a standlone application or in conjunction with ProTools and other existing recorders. Other features include Core Audio support, direct-to-disk recording in QuickTime/AIFF format, window management, and a realtime samples & loops player with synth, pitch transposition and effects, as well as Seq Tracker for song composition and subsection live playing. It is €320.

WiebeTech reduces prices on MicroGB drives

11/14, 1:05pm

WiebeTech reduces prices on MicroGB drives

WiebeTech today reduced prices on its MicroGB, its bus-powered pocket-size storage drives with both FireWire and USB 2.0 interfaces. The 60GB/4200RPM version is now $370 ($50 reduction), while both the 4200RPM and the 5400RPM version of the 40GB drive were reduced by $10 to $270 and $300, respectively. It is also available in capacities of 0GB (case-only), 20GB, and 30GB capacities. The product features an aluminum enclosure, USB 2.0 cable and FireWire cables, and an AC adapter (required only for USB usage).

3-XServe Cluster Achieves 217 GigaFlops

11/14, 12:55pm

3-XServe Cluster Achieves 217 GigaFlops

Dauger Research announced it has achieved over 217 billion floating-point operations per second on a cluster of 33 XServe's: "The Applied Cluster Computing Group at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) recently acquired 33 XServes for the purpose of using them as a parallel computing cluster. Using Pooch, provided by Dauger Research, the JPL group has begun running parallel computing code on what is presently the largest working XServe cluster known to exist."

Iomega intros Mini USB Drive

11/14, 12:55pm

Iomega intros Mini USB Drive

Iomega today introduced its Iomega Mini USB Drive, a sleek, key-sized device, initially available in 64MB ($70) and 128MB ($100) capacities. It features Active Disk technology, offers USB connectivity, supports password protection, and weighs only 0.7 ounces (20gm). The Iomega Mini USB Drive features low power consumption and a sliding key ring design that "easily moves between the drive body and the cap according to user preference. This design feature offers improved security; users can keep the key ring with the drive when traveling and easily detach the key ring from the drive when it is connected to a PC." It will be available later this month in the US and worldwide in January 2003. A 256MB version will be available in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2003.

Email management tool offers SQL support

11/14, 10:40am

Email management tool offers SQL support

Intelli Innovations today introduced IntelliMerge SQL, its new specialized database software for electronic business messaging. It can create, preview, deploy, and report on dynamically created e-mail campaigns. It offers an integrated campaign/message editor with plain text, styled text, html, and text/html combination messaging as well as built-in MySQL and OpenBase database support, support for file attachments, a bounced-email checker, and several MySQL tools. It is available in four versions, starting at $350 for the personal version.

DV Editing: "Mac Slaughtered Again"

11/14, 10:30am

DV Editing: "Mac Slaughtered Again"

Digital Video Editing compares the new Dual-1.25GHz PowerMac to a single-processor Dell featuring the newly released Pentium 4 3.06GHz procesor with HyperThreading enabled (the system also uses PC1066 RDRAM) using various Digital Content Creation benchmarks (After Effects and Photoshop): "As for comparing the Dell workstation with the fastest Mac on the market, well, the two machines are apparently in different classes. Take a look at the test results, and you’ll have to agree that, using these benchmarks, the Mac was slaughtered again, and this time by an even wider expanse than ever."

Xbase helps publish, create online magazine

11/14, 10:30am

Xbase helps publish, create online magazine

TNC today announced XBase to build online news/Web-magazine websites. The WebObjects-based solution offers various functions from unlimited category system, reporter mode and administrator mode to manage news articles, online forum, ad management, user polling, and user management system as well as a web interface for remote management. Pricing starts at $900 per copy.

Willow intros new dust covers for Macs

11/14, 5:40am

Willow intros new dust covers for Macs

Willow Design has released three new dust covers for the 17" iMac ($20), the 17" eMac ($20) as well as the older G3 Classic iMac ($17). Each dust cover is custom fitted to cover the desktop, keyboard, mouse and extra speakers and features special mesh openings at the rear to "vent excess heat from the computer in case it's been left on in sleep mode or turned on accidentally." The three dust covers are covered by Willow's lifetime guarantee against defects in materials or craftsmanship.

Apple appoints new VP of Asia Pacific

11/14, 5:35am

Apple appoints new VP of Asia Pacific

Apple has appointed Tony Ho as vice-president of Asia Pacific reporting to John Brandon, Apple vice-president of the Americas and Asia Pacific, according to The Star Online. Ho is "responsible for driving the strategic direction and business plans to grow the company’s revenue in Asia Pacific (excluding Japan), Apple said in a statement [and] will also expand the company’s customer base, lead sales and marketing function and direct the channel strategy throughout the region."

LDAPBrowser for OS X released

11/14, 1:25am

LDAPBrowser for OS X released

Singlestep has released LDAPBrowser for OS X, allowing users to locate organizations, individuals, and other resources such as files and devices in a network. The free LDAPBrowser, created with the object-oriented VNOS environment, runs the ldapsearch command and parses the results into a view-only Browse Tree: "It is a simple application that connects VNOS objects in a powerful user interface to handle the input and output options of command line functions. This provides easier access to information in directories and enables automation." It requires VNOS, which costs $200/year. [updated]