News Archive for 03/02/04

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"Mac OS X in a Nutshell" released by O'Rei

02/04, 9:00pm

"Mac OS X in a Nutshell" released by O'Rei

O'Reilly has released "Mac OS X in a Nutshell," a $35 book that explores Mac OS X and its underpinnings in detail. "In the tradition of O'Reilly's In a Nutshell series, this new title offers a thorough treatment of Mac OS X version 10.2, from its BSD Unix foundation to Aqua, the new user interface," explains the publisher. The book, by Jason McIntosh, Chuck Toporek, and Chris Stone, includes information on "virtually every command and utility available on Mac OS X Jaguar," advice and documentation on system configuration, and an overview of basic system and network administration, in addition to countless other topics.

iMovie 3 and 12" PowerBook coverage

02/04, 7:35pm

iMovie 3 and 12" PowerBook coverage

We have updated our catalog of known iMovie 3 issues, and our 12" PowerBook special report to contain more information. Readers are encouraged to contribute any relevant findings.

Blue World celebrates success w/ promo

02/04, 6:10pm

Blue World celebrates success w/ promo

Blue World Communications today announced a special sales promotion offering new and upgrade customers a discount of up to $200 on its Lasso products. The sales promotion is offered in celebration of increased sales and profits experienced by the company in the calendar year 2002. Customers can save $200 on Lasso Professional 6 and $50 on Lasso Studio 6. For an additional $15 plus shipping charges, customers may request delivery of a CD-ROM which includes all software and electronic documentation.

GarageFonts updates library; new pricing

02/04, 5:50pm

GarageFonts updates library; new pricing

GarageFonts today added 75 new typefaces to its library. The new fonts include: Adamopolis by Adam Larder, Arbuckle by Robby Woodard, Solidarity by Jason Hogue, Archive Solid, Capibara, Epos, and Melvin by Pieter van Rosmalen, Nemesis by Jonathan Edwards, Oplontis by Marc Tassell; Parvenu by Anna Maria Geals, and Tera by Nikola Djurek. Also included is "District," a 14-weight type family designed by Dylan and Kienan Smith for corporate communications and branding. For the month of February, GarageFonts is selling the library for $1000 -- half its regular price.

New "Switch" parody online

02/04, 5:45pm

New "Switch" parody online

An Apple fan has posted a new parody of the company's "Switch" TV advertisementing campaign. The "switcher" in the ad pokes fun at Apple's slow hardware update cycle, and jokes about his love for Mac OS X's "spinning beach ball."

Apps: Data Recycler X, DeskShade Plus...

02/04, 3:50pm

Apps: Data Recycler X, DeskShade Plus...

Prosoft today released Data Recycler X for Mac OS X, a software utility tool built for Mac OS X that can recover deleted files and folders, even after the trash is emptied. Data Recycler X, now availabe at its online store, also scans the hard drive(s) to check file system integrity providing an early warning system when hard drive failure seems imminent. The $50 utility provides instant undelete that protects the user from accidental file deletion by protecting the drive space being occupied by deleted files.
Jan Van Boghout has released DeskShade Plus 1.1, a utility to show/hide the Mac OS X desktop. It adds dual-monitor support, improves the DeskLock functionality (save passwords and away messages), and other new preference. It is $7 shareware. [491KB]
LittleFish Software today announced WorkSheet Maker 2.3, its educational application that can make problem sheets for students with addition (carrying/no carrying), multiplication, division, decimals, and other math functions. A single user-license is $25, while a site license is $70. [4.0MB]
equinux today released VPN Tracker, 1.5, which provides better support for major firewall suppliers (notably Watchguard); the ability to use the VPN connection on the gateway machine; and support for local IP addresses. The Mac OS X client allows users to connect to other commercial VPN gateways or software gateways using Linux, Mac OS X or Windows. Pricing starts at $80 for a single connection. [3.1MB]
Angelo Scicolone's iLink 0.8 is a bookmark manager designed specifically for people who use more than one browser under Mac OS X. The $20 shareware automatically searchs for and imports every bookmarks of any web browser at launch time (for better bookmark syncing). iLink also features a useful floating palette that you can use to simply put your bookmarks on the front or type a URL to be launched in one of your browsers. [1.7MB]

Open-source project brings Linux to the iPod

02/04, 2:20pm

Open-source project brings Linux to the iPod

Linux on iPod is an open-source project by Bernard Leach designed to port Linux to the iPod: "Unfortunately the iPod is considered a "closed-platform" by Apple and technical info is virtually non-existant so this has involved a fair bit of guess work, reverse-engineering and experimentation! But the end result is a Linux kernel (based on the uClinux port) running on the 'Pod. I hope that this initial port provides some inspiration to others out there to see what more they can get the iPod to do!"

Apple launches HP inkjet rebate

02/04, 12:45pm

Apple launches HP inkjet rebate

Apple's new Save and print promo offers a $99 rebate on a HP DeskJet 3820 or 5550 printer when purchased with a Mac. The offer is available only at Apple online and retail stores and participating resellers and runs from February 1 to March 29, 2003.

Apps: DeckLink, QuickPop Up, Fusebox...

02/04, 12:25pm

Apps: DeckLink, QuickPop Up, Fusebox...

Xupport 1.2.5 adds "empty and burn" (shredder function), the ability to enable "System file journaling" on invisible volumes, the ability to change the memory SWAP file location to invisible volumes, and fixes a bug. Xupport provides a clean GUI to configure many Mac OS X options, that are not or hard to configure manually, and more and includes several unix command to optimize and secure your Mac, and activates features that are disabled by default. [356KB]
Blackmagic Design's updated DeckLink 2.4b1 software offers real-time color correction, and full compatibility with uncompressed 8- and 10-bit Digital Voodoo format QuickTime files. Version 2.4, a free update, also includes support for capture, playback, and rendering of an increased range of uncompressed QuickTime files. It is designed for use with the company's $1000 DeckLink 10-bit uncompressed video card.
Kanex today introduced QuickPopup 4.0, a new version of its $15 utility that allows users securely exchange popup messages over corporate, school and home networks without connecting to the Internet. Version 4.0 offers a new message format, a sent messages archive, transparent encryption, clickable URLs, and support for long user names.
Tri-BACKUP 3.1.6 is an update to the backup utility for Mac OS X, offering support for scheduled and immediate backups as well as synchronizations and restorations. It now correctly saves folder presentation settings and fixes a few bugs. A trial of the $50 utility is available online. [1.8MB]
LassoFusebox.org today released its free, open-source Fusebox Framework and Development Methodology for Lasso Professional 6. Fusebox is a widely web application framework with versions for Coldfusion, PHP, ASP and now Lasso Professional 6. It supports advanced features such as inheritance, drag and drop components, and fusedocs - a javadoc style of commenting code.
Totwise 1.1 is an update to the youth program management software, adding data import, printed reports, new administrative preferences, immunization tracking, and support for international currencies. The youth management program offers functions for billing, kid information, staff information, encrollment, operations management, and multiple users. It is free for up for programs with up to 100 kids and $1000 plus $1 per kid for larger programs. It runs on Mac OS 8/9/X. [11.7MB]
El Gato's EyeTV 1.1.2, which only works under Jaguar, fixes an audio synchronization problems when re-editing a compacted recording and an error -2014 when playing back some recordings. The software is designed to work with the company's Eye TV Digital Video Recorder, which can find/track/save television programming (as well as pause and skip commercials). [5.9MB]

AEGIS client secures wireless networks

02/04, 11:55am

AEGIS client secures wireless networks

Meetinghouse has released an enhanced version of AEGIS Client for Mac OS X. Meetinghouse's 802.1X-based client authentication solution provides the broadest selection of EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) methods available, including, TLS, TTLS, PEAP, LEAP and MD5. AEGIS provides secure standards-based user authentication for wireless LANs in enterprise and public access networks: "In addition, AEGIS mitigates commonly known vulnerabilities and weaknesses in 802.11 wireless networking by providing the enhanced tunneling authentication solutions, TTLS and PEAP. Tunneled authentication eliminates client-side certificates, and leverages existing standard user name and password infrastructures. The final version is expected at the end of the month, while a beta is available now. AEGIS Client is priced at $40 with volume discounts available. AEGIS Server pricing ranges from $2,500 to $3,200.

CCaptionPro adds captions to DV and DVDs

02/04, 11:55am

CCaptionPro adds captions to DV and DVDs

Leapfrog has released a Mac OS X version of its closed-captioning software application, CCaptionPro. The general purpose caption editing software program adds closed and open captions to Digital Video, adds closed captions to DVD MPEG-2 video and generates subtitle files for DVD authoring packages such as DVD Studio Pro. It is sold as a stand-alone product and includes Leapfrog Productions' existing closed-captioning solution for generating closed captions for Avid and Media 100 video editing systems. A version of CCaptionPro that only permits adding captions to Digital Video, called CCaptionPro-DV, and is also available. CCaptionPro is $900, while CCaptionPro-DV is $500.

Secure.CC updates eShox, mShox commerce pkgs

02/04, 8:55am

Secure.CC updates eShox, mShox commerce pkgs

Secure.CC today released an update to its Mac OS X ecommerce solution, eShox 1.3.3 (as well as its music-industry tailored solution, mShox 1.3.3). The update version offers new support for an unlimited number of stores hosted on a single server, a new "reseller login" feature to allow vendors to provide resellers with a login for discounted pricing, updates and fixes to Airborne and FedEx shipping carriers, and other bug fixes and optimizations. The Apache/MySQL commerce solution also offers multiple-pricing levels, external database integration, automated customer logins, product serial numbers, interface themes, shipping integration, and tax/payment processing. Introductory pricing of $300 ($100 off) is currently available.

AirPort Extreme BaseStation troubleshooting

02/04, 8:50am

AirPort Extreme BaseStation troubleshooting

Apple has posted notes on the new AirPort Extreme BaseStation: it includes and requires new AirPort 3.0 software (which is on CD (not available elsewhere), some USB printer status messages are not available; a list of compatible ("qualified") USB printers, some third-party 802.11b wireless cards do not connect to the base station when it is in Compatibility mode (must use 802.11b-only mode until an firmware/software update is available).

Apple lowers eMac pricing

02/04, 8:45am

Apple lowers eMac pricing

Apple also announced lower pricing on the eMac: $1000 for its 17-inch flat CRT eMac with a 700MHz G4 processor, a Combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive; an NVIDIA GeForce2 MX with 32MB; 128MB of system memory; and a 40GB Ultra ATA hard drive. The $1,300 model includes an 800MHz PowerPC G4 processor; a SuperDrive DVD-R/CD-RW drive; an NVIDIA GeForce2 MX with 32MB; 256MB of system memory; and a 60GB Ultra ATA hard drive.

Apple announces 'Spring line' of iMacs

02/04, 8:30am

Apple announces 'Spring line' of iMacs

Apple today announced its Spring line of iMac computers, featuring two new models. The new 17-inch widescreen model has a 1GHz G4 processor and 133 MHz system bus; 256MB of DDR memory; a faster 4x SuperDrive for playing and burning CDs and DVDs; and internal support for AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth and the new 15-inch flat panel model features an 800MHz G4 processor and is now priced at $1,400 ($200 reduction).

Online Apple Stores down for maintenance

02/04, 8:25am

Online Apple Stores down for maintenance

Readers note that online Apple Stores around the US are "down for maintenance," hinting at the release of the new hardware by Apple. (Apple has traditionally taken the store offline to update its online store with new offerings.) The site currently says "We'll be back soon. We are busy updating the store for you and will be back within the hour."

iPassConnect 2.3 offers global VPN access

02/04, 8:20am

iPassConnect 2.3 offers global VPN access

iPass has announced iPassConnect 2.3 for Mac OS X, which supports wireless and wired broadband connections on the iPass virtual network. iPassConnect, previously available available for Mac OS 9, provides remote and mobile professionals with quick, reliable and secure connections to the corporate network over the Internet via toll-free or local lines in approximately 150 countries, as well as from numerous wired and wireless broadband "hotspots" around the globe. It provides cross-platform access from 200 enterprise-ready network provider partners, offering both VPN integration as well as SSL authentication.

Digidesign ships Pro Tools 6.0

02/04, 8:15am

Digidesign ships Pro Tools 6.0

Digidesign is now shipping Pro Tools 6.0 with new systems and says that its new Pro Tools 6.0 upgrades will be available in mid-February, earlier than the "second quarter 2003" release date announced last year. Version 6.0 of the software brings Mac OS X compatibility, new file management functions, enhanced MIDI functionality, TDM and RTAS plug-in instancing on-the-fly (TDM version only), new plugins, import Session Data options (TDM only), and more features in the LE version. List price for the Pro Tools 6.0 software upgrade is $200 from any previous TDM version and $75 from any previous LE version. The page however notes some limited functionality, until follow-up software updates are offered in mid-2003.

Apps: Quicken 2003, 3ivx Delta 4, Snak...

02/04, 8:05am

Apps: Quicken 2003, 3ivx Delta 4, Snak...

Intuit has released Quicken 2003R4 update, which offers fixes for unexpected quits when downloading certain types of investment transactions. [3.5MB]
Happy Machines has released 3ivx Delta 4, an update to its high-quality MPEG-4 codec. The D4 release delivers "high-quality encoding and decoding facilities inside all QuickTime compatible applications." It runs on Mac OS 8/9/X. [759KB]
Crescendo Software has released Picture Play 1.7.1, a minor update to the $15 shareware image composition tool for OS X. Picture Play lets you combine digital photos, scanned images, or any other graphics to create rich and diverse compositions with editable text content, backgrounds, and stylish effects including translucency, transparency, and rotation. [1.1MB]
The $20 IRC client Snak 4.9 has now been localized for Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Danish and UK English. Version 4.9 also features the Actions list which allows you to set up automatic responses to many events and also includes command buttons under the userlist (as well as an editor for command buttons, tool) and contextual menus. [2.1MB]
24U FM Template 1.0 is a Metrowerks CodeWarrior template project for building FileMaker Pro plug-ins: "Creating your own custom plug-ins is now nothing more than just configuring few constants in a single header file and writing your functions' code." The donationware developer tool offers the ability to build single-file cross-platform plugins. [206KB]
Alexander Wilson Studios today released AWS Guitar Tuner and IndieToolbar, two freeware programs for the Mac. AWS Guitar Tuner for Mac OS X is a simple guitar tuner with standard tuning in acoustic-nylon, acoustic-steel, and electric guitar voices. IndieToolbar is an internet utility that allows users of any Macintosh browser to take advantage of the most popular internet toolbar icons from the Alexander Wilson Studios collection, previously only available for Internet Explorer. IndieToolbar is vertical, freestanding, and customizeable, made for Mac OS X as well as OS 9. [AGT, IT-Classic, IT-OSX]

Verax developing fan kit for Power Mac G4s

02/04, 8:05am

Verax developing fan kit for Power Mac G4s

Verax says it is developing a special low-noise fan kit for the Power Mac G4, in response to reader issues with the Power Mac G4 (Mirrored drive): "We ask G4 owners who are annoyed by the Mac noise to wait patiently until the end of February. We will then publish complete information about the Verax G4 solution on the Verax homepage."