News Archive for 03/03/11

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Macs in the media: Canada ad & Dell site

03/11, 8:20pm

Macs in the media: Canada ad & Dell site

The Register notes that Apple Canada placed an advertisement on MSN Canada's home page that read: "The new 17-inch iMac - the PC you really want." Meanwhile, a MacNN reader notes that the DellHost Web site features an Apple PowerBook G4 in a prominent photograph.

Hebrew version of Office for Mac expected

03/11, 8:15pm

Hebrew version of Office for Mac expected

A Macintosh version of Microsoft Office that supports Hebrew will be announced within the next few weeks, according to a report published today by The Register. Without Office, a Macintosh is a "pretty hard sell, [in Israel]" the article says. The lack of support has prompted the Israeli AntiTrust commission to examine the Apple-Microsoft relationship in some depth. Microsoft explained that it couldn't afford to incorporate right-to-left support in Office and that Apple didn't have the support in the underlying operating system.

Agfa releases new font collections

03/11, 7:20pm

Agfa releases new font collections

Agfa Monotype has released the E+F and Nick's Fonts collections. The collections encompass over 1,800 fonts and font packages that can be previewed, purchased and downloaded from the library page of Fonts.com. The E+F collection from Elsner+Flake is now the largest set available; Nick's Fonts consists of works by designer Nick Curtis. Prices for individual E+F fonts begin at $35 with volumes of two or more fonts starting at $70. Prices for individual fonts in Nick's collection begin at $25, with volumes of two or more fonts starting at $50.

KB: W2K folders; custom desktops; more

03/11, 6:00pm

KB: W2K folders; custom desktops; more

Knowledge Base roundup: Folders created on a Windows 2000 Server by Mac OS X AFP clients may have the wrong permissions, preventing Mac OS X users from accessing the folders they create; a local MS-DOS (FAT32) volume, whether a whole disk or a partition, will not appear in the Finder ("mount") if it is larger than 128 GB; if you use a custom desktop picture, the keyboard layout changes to U.S. during startup; iPhoto or Image Capture may not recognize a connected camera when users are limited to certain applications or removable media.

Apps: Levelground, Auto-Tune, iPod.iTunes ...

03/11, 5:40pm

Apps: Levelground, Auto-Tune, iPod.iTunes ...

Levelground Media today updated Vintasion and Fattenizer, its digital audio processing plug-ins for use in MAS recording environments. Vintasion 1.1 and Fattenizer 1.1 offer recording musicians and engineers of all skill levels the ability to enhance individual audio tracks and project mixes by adding user tunable vintage style 'coloration' with Vintasion or 'fattening' with Fattenizer via their special algorithmic configurations. The updates contain performance improvements, internal buffer optimization, memory usage reduction, and bug fixes. Pricing is $130 each or $170 for both. [site not updated]

Antares has released new TDM and RTAS versions of its Auto-Tune 3 pitch-correction software for Mac OS X. These new versions require Pro Tools 6 TDM or LE and OS X. Upgrades from Auto-Tune 3 TDM v3.0.x are $100; upgrading from Auto-Tune TDM (pre-3) is $150. Purchasers of Auto-Tune 3 RTAS after December 1, 2002 are entitled to a free upgrade to Auto-Tune 3 RTAS OS X.

After four beta releases, the final release of iPod.iTunes 2.0 is now available. iPod.iTunes provides synchronization of tracks and playlists from any iPod to any Mac and can be used to keep multiple Macs in sync, or to restore tracks to a Mac after deletion. Version 2.0 yields significant interface enhancements to conform to Aqua guidelines, in addition to offering usability enhancements and improved functionality, including a signifcant speed increase. [Download - 448KB]

Apimac English-Italian Dictionary 7.1 is the latest release of the all-in-one dictionary and phrase book, for Mac OS X and Classic. The new version is a minor update that corrects the Mini-Window behavior, making it more intuitive to use. It also includes a variety of code tweaks that improve the reliability of the application. Apimac English-Italian Dictionary is a $25 shareware application (the upgrade is free for registered users). [Download - Classic: E-I, I-E OS X: E-I, I-E]

Page Sender 3.0 is an update to Smile Software's $30 fax software that adds folders for organization, a fax history, sent fax actions, and a French localization. Page Sender is compatible with Mac OS X only. [Download - English, French]

Aspyr has released Medal Of Honor: Allied Assault 1.13, a maintenance update to its Macintosh port of the popular World War II game. Details of the update were not released. The update adds support for SMP on dual CPU computers, adds FSAA support, upgrades the sound library to fix a crash and be more compatible with dual CPU computers, and also fixes a problem whereby Macintosh servers were not listed in the GameSpy browser. [Download - 2.5MB]

PowerBooks used in Middle East for reporting

03/11, 4:45pm

PowerBooks used in Middle East for reporting

IMDb.com reports that "Macintosh computers, which represent only about three percent of personal computers sold in the U.S., have seemingly become the computer-of-choice for news organizations covering events in the Middle East. Sorenson Media said Monday that the Chicago Tribune's 24 TV stations, the Los Angeles Times, MSNBC.com and Newsweek magazine have joined television news organizations who are equipping reporters and producers in the field with Apple's PowerBook laptop, loaded with Apple's Final Cut Pro editing software and Sorenson Squeeze 3 compression software to send audio, video, and still photos back to their home bases via satellite videophones."

Another brief quotes Sony's U.S. head, Howard Stringer as saying that "We [Sony and Apple] are also rivals, and trying to get together would frankly be a waste of time," following Sony chief Nobuyuki Idei'a thoughts on working with Apple in at least three different attempts made last year to work out a mutual strategy with Apple: "This is a difficult person to work with if you are a big company. We started working with them, but it is a nightmare," Idei said.

Apps: BBEdit, breve, TFTP Server, Impression

03/11, 2:45pm

Apps: BBEdit, breve, TFTP Server, Impression

Bare Bones Software today released BBEdit 7.0.3, the latest version of its HTML and text editor. The free update incorporates a preference option to control character set handling in HTML and XHTML documents, and a new HTML placeholder ('SHORTUSERNAME'), as well as various interface refinements and fixes for reported issues. [15.1MB]
Fabrizio La Rosa's TFTP Server 1.1 is a simple utility helps you to use and configure the TFTP server, which ships with Mac OS X. Uses can easily start/stop the TFTP server and change the path where the files are sent and received from TFTP clients (e.g. Cisco routers and switches) which connect to your Mac acting as TFTP server. (Trivial File Transfer Protocol is a simple form of the FTP that uses UDP and provides no security features. It is often used by servers to boot diskless workstations, X-terminals, and routers.) [112KB]
breve 1.5 is a free software package which "makes it easy to build 3D simulations of decentralized systems and artificial life. Users define the behaviors of agents in a 3D world and observe how they interact. breve includes physical simulation and collision detection so you can simulate realistic creatures, and an OpenGL display engine so you can visualize your simulated worlds." [1.3MB]
Impression 0.9b3 is a backup utility for Mac OS X, offering a low-cost ($20), reliable application with which to back up and restore data from a directory or folder to multiple optical disks (CD-R, CD-RW and DVD-R are supported). [380KB]

Final Cut Pro Uncompressed event in MD

03/11, 1:50pm

Final Cut Pro Uncompressed event in MD

Mac Business Solutions, in conjunction with Apple, will be hosting a free Final Cut Pro Uncompressed event at its Gaithersburg, MD location on March 19 from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Apple will be demonstrating uncompressed workflow solutions using Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro, and discount pricing on hardware and software will be available to all attendees. Discreet demos of Combustion and Cleaner, as well as the Washington DC Area Final Cut Pro User Group meeting will take place at MBS later the same day.

Wi-Fi access at Hilton, McDonald's, Borders

03/11, 1:35pm

Wi-Fi access at Hilton, McDonald's, Borders

Hilton Hotels, McDonald's, are Borders bookstores are among the latest companies to announce plans for Wi-Fi wireless hotspots sporting 802.11b technology, according to c|net. Hilton said it would provide hotspots at nearly 50 of its hotels and resorts in the US in the next 30 days; Borders said it will launch a marketing campaign with Intel to promote its 400 hotspots, and McDonald's will provide hotspots in three US cities (Manhattan, Chicago, and an un-named California city), offering one-hour of free access with each combo meal purchased.

MacPlay distributes GameHouse titles

03/11, 1:25pm

MacPlay distributes GameHouse titles

GameHouse today announced an agreement with United Developers, the parent company of MacPlay, in which Super Collapse!, currently the most popular game on the Internet, will be available at national retail outlets through MacPlay's distribution channels. Super Collapse!, along with other web game hits Super Nisqually and Super Glinx!, are now available in retail software outlets across the US on a single CD-ROM, Super GameHouse Collection. The retail version ($30) of the games include many features not found on the Internet versions, including full screen play, greater music selection, high resolution graphics and high-score posting. It is available for $25 ($5 off) for a limited time.

Extensis updates Suitcase 10.2.1 font app

03/11, 1:20pm

Extensis updates Suitcase 10.2.1 font app

Extensis today announced two free updates to its Suitcase Server product line, extending the capabilities of its workgroup font management solution. Suitcase 10.2.1 for Macintosh offers server administrators additional control for their workgroup users, including individual font license management. The new Suitcase Server allows administrators to control local font access on a per-user basis, manage font licenses, be alerted of potential license problems, and even administer fonts remotely. Suitcase Server is available for $1000 and includes five free copies of Suitcase 10.2. Upgrades from previous versions of Suitcase Server are available for $500. French and German language product versions of Suitcase Server will be available later this year.

Apps: OmniOutliner, GPGPrefs, Studio Boss

03/11, 12:50pm

Apps: OmniOutliner, GPGPrefs, Studio Boss

The Omni Group today released OmniOutliner 2.2, new version of its $30 outlining tool that adds XML export: "OmniOutliner users can use a stylesheet to transform a document into HTML that Word can interpret as an outline. Stylesheets can be created to generate other formats, such as TeX documents." The Omni Group plans to provide stylesheets for various formats in the future. Version 2.2 also provides import and export compatibility with Keynote files. [1.7MB]
Unsanity today released Mighty Mouse 1.1, an update to its $10 haxie to create, animate, customize, and share cursors for Mac OS X. It fixes problems with changing resolutions, exports cursor previews, and other bugs. [2.0MB]
The Mac GPG Project Group has released GPGPreferences 1.2, a preference pane for Mac OS X for editing GnuPG's options file: "It offers easy access to commonly modified settings as well as an expert mode for experienced users. In addition, it fixes various problems with your system's configuration that may prevent the Mac GPG suite of applications from working correctly." Mac GPG is a Mac OS X port of GnuPG, a a free OpenPGP client that can encrypt text and sign text. [GPGPref, MacGPG PG]
The multilingual word-processor, Mellel 1.5, adds professional-level tables, smart undo, and other small enhancements to the sophisticated word-processing application. It features paragraph/character styles, tables, page styles, footnotes/endnotes, spell-as-you-type, RTF import/export, and other advanced features. It is $20.
Studio Boss 3.6 is a billing and job tracking application for Mac OS. Studio Boss users can now track their time using a Palm-compatible PDA and create customized reports using the full version of Adobe Acrobat. The project and client tracker is designed for Mac creatives and freelancers: it uses the FileMaker Pro data engine to store, sort, and manage design, video, and photography projects, clients, activities, expenses, and invoices. A Pro ($250) version of the $40 standalone application runs natively in FileMaker Pro (and includes completely unlocked FileMaker 6 source files).

New barcode software, scanner available

03/11, 12:30pm

New barcode software, scanner available

Easy Barcode Technologies today launched two new products: Easy Barcode Creator, an easy-to-use vector barcode generation product, and the Easy Barcode Reader, a plug-and-play USB barcode scanner. Easy Barcode Creator ($130) allows users to create ready-to-print barcode graphics in vector EPS format for use with software such as Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. It supports EAN, Bookland/ISBN, UPC, I2of5 (ITF-14), and Code 39 barcodes and has an advanced Level 2 PostScript generator. The Easy Barcode Reader is a desktop USB barcode scanner designed for home and office use with support for over 15 barcode symbologies, including EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC, Bookland EAN ("ISBN barcodes"), Code 39, Code 128, I2of5 (ITF), Industrial 2 of 5, Matrix 2 of 5, Codabar, Telepen, and MSI/Plessey. The $255 device emulates a keyboard (thus requires no extra drivers), offers triggered or trigglerless barcode scanning modes, has a special barcode Identification Mode, and includes international keyboard support with 18 mappings built-in.

Martian debuts wireless network storage drive

03/11, 9:10am

Martian debuts wireless network storage drive

Martian Technology today announced the release of the Martian NetDrive Wireless file serving device. The $400 device adds 40GB of file storage to any network; it combines a 40GB hard drive with a small, silent, low-power case and an 802.11b wireless network interface, making it :the world's first wirelessly-connected network storage device. [It] allows users to share music, digital photos, and other documents over a network without the expense and noise of leaving a PC on at all times acting as a fileserver." It also includes a 10/100Mbps Ethernet port which can be used to attach the device to a wired ethernet network. Martian Technology also offers the Martian NetDrive Basic ($380), a version of the device which contains only the 10/100Mbps Ethernet port.

Script Software releases Knowledge Miner 5.0

03/11, 9:05am

Script Software releases Knowledge Miner 5.0

Script Software has released KnowledgeMiner X 5.0, its software application that employs a set of unique inductive learning and self-organizing modeling technologies: GMDH Neural Networks, Fuzzy Rule Induction, and Analog Complexing pattern recognition for time series prediction, classification, modeling, clustering, and diagnosis of complex ill-defined systems. It can generate reliable individual and hybrid models and also provides an explanation component in form of algebraic or difference equations, fuzzy rules, or a set of similar patterns. The new version implements a two stage model validation approach for parametric GMDH models.

Smith Micro ships FAXstf X Pro for Mac OS X

03/11, 8:55am

Smith Micro ships FAXstf X Pro for Mac OS X

Smith Micro today began shipping FAXstf X Pro for Mac OS X, a new version of its fax management application. It features a single-window fax browser, allows users to view multiple documents simultaneously, sort faxes and create your own sub-folders for better organization of sent and received faxes.

Blizzard expands Warcraft III beta test

03/11, 8:45am

Blizzard expands Warcraft III beta test

Blizzard Entertainment announced it will be selecting 10,000 additional participants to facilitate the on-going testing of Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne: "We are extremely pleased with the results and feedback that the beta test is generating and would like to offer the opportunity for even more players to experience all the new features that the Frozen Throne has to offer. Those who signed up for the Beta Test will now have another chance to participate in and play-test the Beta as we proceed into the next phase of our testing process. These additional participants can expect to receive an e-mail from us confirming their participation in the next few days."

Apps: WeatherPop, Desktastic, DVDxDV...

03/11, 8:40am

Apps: WeatherPop, Desktastic, DVDxDV...

Glucose today updated WeatherPop 1.7, which adds the ability to determine whether or not a weather data source is missing data for the city the user has chosen and will automatically choose a different data source with more accurate and complete information. The update also includes number of bug fixes, related to problems with forecasts for cities with negative temperatures, text forecasts that include elevation information and improvements specific to Canadian cities. The company expects to release WeatherPop 2.0 within the next 4-8 weeks; it will include "the ability to see what it looks like without actually going outside." WeatherPop is free, while WeatherPop Advance is $8 shareware. [WP, OSX]
Panic's Desktastic 3.0 lets users draw directly on their Mac OS X desktop. Version 3.0 adds Wacom tablet support for pressure sensitivity and erasing, auto-saving of drawings on quit, the ability to print drawings, configurable toolbar positioning, and a "Drawing Layer" preference that lets users tuck their drawings out of the way underneath the Desktop icons. It is a free upgrade to registered owners fo the $13 utility. [190KB]
DVDxDV 0.2 is an utility that exports the audio/video from iDVD-created (and other) DVDs. The new version allows you to set "in" and "out" points inside a DVD video clip: "This sub-clip can then be exported straight from the DVD. You only export the video that you want, so don't have to 'rip' the entire DVD." This beta will expire on Monday April 7, 2003. [482KB]
Free Ruler 1.6 is an update to the free screen ruler for Mac OS X. It allows users to measure objects on screen in pixels, inches, picas, and cm. New in version 1.6: customizable ruler transparency, a unit conversion assistant, and improved grouping behavior. [1.0MB]
The DBF2LDIF utility offers users the ability to export DBF (dBaseIV) files to the LDIF (Lightweight Directory Interchange Format) format. Users can create LDIF files that are used by Jaguar Address Book for importing contacts. Users of programs such as ClarisWorks, FileMaker, Excel, and others can export their DBF-based contact files to transfer address to Mac OS X 10.2's AdressBook or a LDAP-compatible file format. It is $6 shareware for Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. [Classic, OSX]

Shinza debuts new TiBook Case, sleeve

03/11, 1:30am

Shinza debuts new TiBook Case, sleeve

Shinza.com today announced new cases for the 15" Titanium PowerBook G4. Each case is "hand-made from 100% brushed aluminum, making each case truly one-of-a-kind. The svelte, low-profile design means the case is scarcely larger than the PowerBook G4 itself. This case features a sturdy metal handle, and the interior is lined with soft protective felt and features shock-absorbing resistance pads along the edges." The $200 TiBook Case also comes with two keys which are used to securely lock down your PowerBook during transport. The TiBook Case is also availablein a Clear Case model, which features a top lid composed of transparent 100% fiberglass in order to prominently display your PowerBook. The $25 TiBook Sleeve offers extra padding on all sides of the notebook and eatures two convenient CD-sized pockets on the back of the case.