News Archive for 02/12/20

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Chimera 0.6 browser gets more features

12/20, 11:55pm

Chimera 0.6 browser gets more features

Mozilla's Chimera 0.6 (12-20) adds several new enhancements to the open-source browser project for Mac OS X that has a Cocoa user interface, and embeds the Gecko layout engine. It adds improved stability, support for Shockwave Director content, better RealPlayer support, new toolbar buttons for tabs, automatic downloads, an improved Global History option, more bookmark options, suport for services, support for URL Manager Pro, and support for Rendezvous, allowing you to see local servers (for OS X 10.2.3 and later, enabled via a hidden preference).

Eric Smith appears on CNN's Connie Chung

12/20, 9:25pm

Eric Smith appears on CNN's Connie Chung

Eric Smith -- the man who helped police arrest a scam artist after being scammed himself on eBay -- appeared this evening on CNN's 'Connie Chung Tonight,' to tell his story. Eric, along with a band of other Macintosh users, investigated the crime after being turned away by police. Mr. Smith sold an Apple PowerBook on eBay, but later discovered that the purchaser had given him a fraudulent check. 'Connie Chung Tonight' will air again at 11 pm EST/8 pm PST.

2003 Macworld events & parties site online

12/20, 5:20pm

2003 Macworld events & parties site online

The Hess Memorial Macworld Events and Party Page has been updated to include a list of countless Macworld-related events. "Even if you don't go to the [San Francisco] show, check the list for related Internet events," explains creator Ilene Hoffman. All companies, user groups, and Web sites are asked to send their announcements before Sunday, Jan 5th, 2003 for inclusion in the final list.

Apps: DayChaser, Spartan, mental ray

12/20, 5:05pm

Apps: DayChaser, Spartan, mental ray

Apple has posted its December 2002 Developer Tools update on its (private) Apple Developer Connection site. It is available for free to registered developers.
PowerMail 4.1 is an updated version of CTM Development's $50 email client for Mac OS X. The update includes the following: Mac OS X 10.2.3 compatibility; a "Recent Mail" log window; a user interface redesign; partial POP3 downloads; SSL security; server-side mail management; an enhanced address book; mail scheduling; live spell-checking; Address Book integration; and unlimited undos in text fields. [4.6MB]
DayChaser 1.01 is a calendar and scheduling application built exclusively for Mac OS X. The update improves record deletion, adds Mailsmith integration, offers custom sound alerts, supports annual calendar entries, and other enhancements to the $20 application for Mac OS X. [1.1MB]
Wavefunction's Spartan '02 for Macintosh -- a molecular modeling environment for Mac OS X only -- allows users to build, display, manipulate and align organic, inorganic and organometallic molecules, and polypeptides. The company says that a "polynucleotides builder, automatic tautomer detector, ribbon style displays for biopolymers, and linear regression analysis will be included in a free maintenance release to all Spartan'02 for Macintosh customers." Commercial pricing is $2,500, while Academic licenses are $1000.
Alias|Wavefront today released a public beta of mental ray 1.5, a new version of its rendering plug-in for Maya. Version 1.5 for Mac OS X is available for free and is useable only by licensed Maya 4.5 customers on the Mac OS X platform. [Download form]

Apple previews Script Editor 2.0 for Mac OS X

12/20, 4:25pm

Apple previews Script Editor 2.0 for Mac OS X

Apple has posted a preview release of Script Editor 2.0pr, a Mac OS X application that can read, write, record, and save AppleScript scripts. (It is located in the AppleScript folder in the Applications folder on your hard drive). Script Editor includes a simplied interface, find/replace features, multiple undos, a new dictionary browser (with color coding and grouped events/classes), a contextual menu, and support for Application Services.

The preview release of the new GUI scripting architecture uses a special version of the System Events application to enable AppleScript scripts to select menu items, push buttons, enter text into text fields, and generally control the GUI of most non-Classic applications. Apple has posted examples to demonstrate a few possible uses of GUI scripting. It requires Mac OS X 10.2.3.

Gefen debuts extend-it ADC Switcher KVM

12/20, 4:15pm

Gefen debuts extend-it ADC Switcher KVM

Gefen will debut its ex-tend-it ADC Switcher at Macworld Expo SF. It allows users use a single Apple flat-panel display, keyboard, mouse and set of speakers with two Macs. The $450 device can accommodate the DVI graphics cards as well for cross-platform system compatibility (and connectivity to legacy Macs). It ships comes with a 28-volt power supply, two six-foot DVI cables for the display connection, two six-foot USB cables for keyboard and mouse, and two audio cables. It can be operated remotely using a RMT-2 remote control (sold separately).

Apps: MySQL, Artlantis, wKiosk, VPN Tracker

12/20, 2:05pm

Apps: MySQL, Artlantis, wKiosk, VPN Tracker

Graphisoft is now shipping Artlantis 4.5 for ArchiCAD, according to Architosh: "the company is running a special Holiday Savings offer where users can save up to 20 percent on the New User pack or Upgrade pack. Artlantis New User Pack includes Artlantis Professional 4.5 for ArchiCAD, Billboard Volume 1, and Shaders 10. The offer ends December 30, 2002." The application runs on Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X.
VPN Tracker 1.5pr, a preview release, offers better interoperability with third-party VPN solutions (eg. WatchGuard Firebox, Draytek Vigor) and integrates better into corporate firewall structures. VPN Tracker is a Mac OS X client that allows you to connect to other commercial VPN gateways or software gateways using Linux, Mac OS X or Windows. The personal edition (for a single network connection) is $80, while the Professional Edition ($200) can be used to connect two or more networks through a secure internet tunnel connection and can also secure AirPort networks. [2.9MB]
MySQL 4.0.6, which addresses the recent security issues (as does MySQL 3.23.54a), is now available and "has been declared 'gamma' which means it is ready for production use, and MySQL AB is encouraging developers to consider switching to 4.0 now." Version 4.0 further increases the speed of MySQL Server in a number of areas, such as bulk INSERTs, searching on packed indexes, creation of FULLTEXT indexes, as well as COUNT(DISTINCT) and offers the InnoDB storage engine as a feature of the standard MySQL server, including full support for transactions and row-level locking. [6.6MB]
wKiosk 1.0 ($100) is a full screen, secure web browser designed for internet kiosks. It is powered by the Netscape Gecko HTML engine and offers options to hide the dock, menus, Finder, and individual Web browser elements (URL field, toolbar, etc.) as well as lock the system by disabling 'Force Quit,' Power, and EjectCD keys. It can also manage bookmarks, prevent unauthorized URL access, and restart itself. The company also released wKiosk Server 1.0b2, a software application for managing users of wKiosk and limiting the access time of wKiosk stations. [WK, WKS beta]

Immersion brings "Touch" to the Mac

12/20, 1:15pm

Immersion brings "Touch" to the Mac

Immersion today announced Mac OS X support for its force-feedback technology, which "adds realism to the virtual world by enabling users to feel shock waves, pings, thumps and other sensations while interacting with their computer. Immersion's force-feedback capabilities are now Mac-ready and software developers can incorporate a world of effects into applications running on Apple's latest operating system, Mac OS X 10.2.3. The first use of force-feedback is expected to occur in the field of gaming, where Force-feedback technology for games and peripherals-such as joysticks, game pads, and steering wheels-has become ubiquitous in the PC market."

Apple KB: security details, OS X 10.2.3...

12/20, 12:15pm

Apple KB: security details, OS X 10.2.3...

KB roundup: Apple has outlined the security issues addressed in Mac OS X 10.2.3 (released yesterday). Other support updates note that when file sharing is on, the computer does not go to sleep and that if you include a period in the Rendezvous name for your computer, the system will not warn you that a period is an invalid character and Rendezvous will not save the new name. Apple has also posted the Mac OS X 10.2.3 updater, the Mac OS X 10.2.3 Combo updater, Mac OS X Server 10.2.3 updater, and Mac OS X Server 10.2.3 Combo updater.

Apps: CandyBar, Xupport, LetterWorks...

12/20, 11:55am

Apps: CandyBar, Xupport, LetterWorks...

Linguisoft has updated its writing tool and grammar checker application: Grammarian Pro X v1.0.2 "addresses many enhanced functionality, performance, and reliability issues and many minor bugs. The list includes typing slowdown fixes and enhanced interactive checking functionality." It is a free update to the $40 application (introductory pricing).
Objectpark Development's LetterWorks 1.1 is an update to its application for writing letters: "[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." The $30 application (holiday pricing) is now available with an Italian user interface. [1.5MB]
4D today released its free 4D Business Kit Dreamweaver plug-in (4DBK Dreamweaver), a GUI extension for Dreamweaver that allows HTML page designers to easily add specific 4D Business Kit tags directly into Dreamweaver MX documents. 4D Business Kit provides catalogs, shopping carts, payment systems, tax calculations, shipping, customer management and order tracking, all integrated into a unified multi-language, multi-store e-commerce tool for $500. [1.1MB]
Xupport 1.2.2 updates the Dock position and alignment settings, adds Mac OS shortcuts It provides a clean GUI (Graphical User Interface) to configure many Mac OS X options, that are not or hard to configure manually, and more. It includes several unix command to optimize and secure your Mac, and activates features that are disabled by default. It is $20 and is available for Mac OS X 10.2 only. [322KB]
CandyBar 1.03 brings Mac OS X 10.2.3 compatibility to the Mac OS X-only application for customizing the icons found in the toolbars of the Mac OS X Finder. It also lets you customize folders, clipping icons, locations and the OS X Trash icon. [2.0MB]
CodeTek's VirtualDesktop 2.1 allows users to switch between multiple desktops and applications. Version 2.1 adds support for Microsoft Word windows in the Pager (which can now be dragged between desktops), adds a new mini-icon in the Status Bar tool (previously a 'V', now a mini-window), and has other enhancements. It is available for $30 for a limited time ($10 off). [4.1MB]

Ableton ships LIVE 2 sequencing instrument

12/20, 11:50am

Ableton ships LIVE 2 sequencing instrument

Ableton today released LIVE 2, an upgrade to its sequencing instrument for Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. LIVE 2 offers enhancements to the performance and jamming features of the original software and also adds multitrack recording and editing with "Elastic Audio," which is described as the "unique ability to treat audio as being totally malleable with independent control over tempo and pitch. This feature allows tempo to be set at anytime during recording, performance or playback. In addition, users can drop in recordings, loops and complete songs that will play in sync, direct from disk." LIVE 2 can also synchronize loops and recordings of any length at any time, offers advanced automation handling, DJ-like cross-fading, relative session mapping, MIDI-based tempo and transport controls, and new Gate and Redux effects. Upgrades are 70 Euro, while the full version is 400 Euro.

BIAS ships Soundsoap audio tool

12/20, 11:40am

BIAS ships Soundsoap audio tool

BIAS has began shipping SoundSoap, a new digital audio signal processing tool for the Mac OS X: "SoundSoap is the first professional-quality noise reduction solution that's also easy enough for average consumers to use effectively. By adjusting just two knobs, anyone can reduce unwanted hiss, room noise, rumble, electrical hum, and other background noise from almost any digital media file - including digital video (DV) soundtracks, PowerPoint and other presentation software soundtracks, Flash and other web-tool soundtracks, digital audio workstation tracks, cassette or other analog tape recordings that have been transferred to a computer, and other sources." It is available as a VST plug-in (works with 3.2 of Peak LE, Peak DV, and Peak as well as Cubase SX) and will be available as a standalone application (free downloadable update).

Macromedia Flash plugin vulnerability

12/20, 11:35am

Macromedia Flash plugin vulnerability

Macromedia has posted a warning about its Macromedia Flash Malformed Header Vulnerability Issue: "Macromedia has recently become aware of a vulnerability where a hand edited malformed Macromedia Flash movie (SWF) header can be exploited to cause a buffer over-write issue which could potentially lead to execution of arbitrary code. This can only occur with Macromedia Flash movies (SWF) that have been hand edited with a binary editor; Macromedia Flash the authoring tool will not output movies with this vulnerability...Macromedia has isolated the issue and released an updated player (6,0,65,0 or later) which is available for download."

Apple files SEC form 10-K Annual Report

12/20, 12:55am

Apple files SEC form 10-K Annual Report

Apple today filed its Annual Report (SEC form 10-K), which includes a section on critical accounting policies (revenue recognition, allowances for doubtful accounts, inventory valuation, purchase commitments, valuation of long-lived assets, and valuation of non-Current debt and equity investments and other sales and operational details. We have some annotated highlights from the report...[details added]