News Archive for 03/03/12

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Apps: ZeboPhoto, Nova, Cinema, 24U

03/12, 5:20pm

Apps: ZeboPhoto, Nova, Cinema, 24U

Bobby Cronkhite Software has released version 1.2.3 of ZeboPhoto, its popular image viewer/editor made with REALbasic. The update adds previewing for more formats, updated icons in the browser, and five new options for caption placement. Version 1.2.3 is a free upgrade to registered users of earlier versions. Pricing begins at $10 for new licenses. [Download - Classic, OS X]

24U Software today introduced 24U Simple Suite, an integrated suite of FileMaker plug-ins, specifically designed to simplify development of complex database solutions based on FileMaker Pro. After paying a fairly low annual licensing fee, you will have the right to use all 24U's plug-ins in their most recent versions. "We plan to release significant upgrades to all our plug-ins, as well as brand new products later this year, and in the years to come," the company says. The one-year license for 24U SimpleSuite costs $170 per site. It is compatible with Mac OS 9 and OS X.

EV Nova 1.0.4 adds countless bug fixes to the popular Mac OS 9/X video game from the Escape Velocity series by Ambrosia Software. [Download - Full Install, Update]

MAXON today released Cinema 4D R8.1, the latest version of its $600 modeling, rendering and animation software for Mac OS 9/X. In addition to maintenance fixes, the update boasts dozens of new features — most notably HDRI and new particle effects — and is available free to all owners of CINEMA 4D R8. "Full support for HDRI (High Dynamic Range Imagery) is an eagerly awaited improvement to the Advanced Render module," the developer says. [Download - 26.7MB]

Apple sponsors JavaOne developer conference

03/12, 4:40pm

Apple sponsors JavaOne developer conference

Key3Media today announced that Apple is a "Gold" Sponsor of Sun's 2003 JavaOne developer conference, which takes place June 10-13 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco: The conference, now open for registration, features a JavaOne Pavilion where sponsors showcase the latest Java technology solutions. It is open from June 10-12, 2003 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Apple Java 1.4.1 available via the Web

03/12, 4:25pm

Apple Java 1.4.1 available via the Web

Apple this week posted its Java 1.4.1 update on the Web (which we noted last Friday was available via the SUCP). It brings mproved Java applet support for Safari and other web browsers that support the Java Internet Plug-In; is up-to-date with the latest Java release from Sun (with hundreds of new features, including built-in support for XML-based web services, enhanced client functionality, and improved performance and reliability); and offers better support for Aqua and Quartz Extreme, supports built-in Universal Access features, and supports UI Scripting for Java applications. [30MB] Apple has also posted Java 1.4.1 Developer Tools Update as free download from the private ADC Website.

Apple also notes that the new Java update bring some architectural changes which affect QuickTime for Java: "As a result, some technologies built on Java 1.3.1 will not work on Java 1.4.1 in their current state. To help alleviate this, Apple currently supports both Java 1.3.1 and Java 1.4.1 with Mac OS X. QuickTime for Java is one of the technologies affected by this change, and Apple will continue to support QuickTime for Java on our 1.3.1 Java implementation."

EZQuest debuts Boa Slim DVD-RW drive

03/12, 4:20pm

EZQuest debuts Boa Slim DVD-RW drive

EZQuest today introduced its new external Boa Slim DVD-RW drive at Cebit Germany. The "super-small drive measures 6-inches, by 5.5-inches, by .75 inch -- just big enough to accommodate a DVD or CD disc." It features both FireWire and USB 2.0 ports and operates at 2x DVD-R, 1x DVD-RW, 8x DVD-Rom, 16x CD-R, 8x CD-RW and 24x CD-ROM speeds. The Boa Slim DVD-RW drive includes a cable and authoring software. The drive has a one-year warranty and will ship at the end of May 2003. (Pricing not available. Site not updated)

n'PINE debuts MathMagic Pro 3.5 for InDesign

03/12, 3:35pm

n'PINE debuts MathMagic Pro 3.5 for InDesign

n'PINE, Inc. this week released MathMagic Pro 3.5 for Adobe InDesign 2.0, which includes the MathMagic Pro application, MathMagic Plug-in, and TrueType & Postscript fonts. MathMagic is a mathematical equation editor that supports WYSIWYG editing and many powerful features for high-end desktop publishing. The new Pro Edition supports StyleSet management, storage of Style and Size settings, TeX import, Equation export as EPS & PICT, new keyboard shortcuts, wheel mouse under Mac OS X, and other new features. Single-user pricing starts at $700.

Apple takes No. 5 in retail desktop market

03/12, 1:45pm

Apple takes No. 5 in retail desktop market

Bloomberg reports that Apple had a 3.8% share of desktop sales in the retail market in January 2003. Apple was No. 5 in unit sales behind Compaq (32%), HP (31%), Emachines (14.3%), and IBM (7.8%).

Apps: J2SEditor, PhoneWord, Aquaruler, Arkeia

03/12, 1:35pm

Apps: J2SEditor, PhoneWord, Aquaruler, Arkeia

J2SEditor 1.1b is an IPTC caption editor with file management capabilities running on MacOS X. It helps you sort files and add or modify textual IPTC meta-data of graphics files without affecting the documents (e.g. the caption of a JPEG file can be updated without recompression of the document). The 250 Euro application runs on both Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X.
PhoneWord 1.1 by infiniteNIL Software finds vanity phone numbers or phone words. It searches the possible combinations of letters in a phone number using its 26,0000-word dictionary. Version 1.1 adds the ability to add your own words as well as being able to find a phone word from any application using Mac OS X services. It is free to to find phone words, but a $10 license is required to save dictionary changes or to use the Phone Word service. [341KB]
dot software's Aquaruler 4.0 is a screen measuring utility, which allows for precise measurement. Version 4.0 of the $11 shareware is completely rewritten for Mac OS X; it features an edge ruler, mouse XY coordinates, drag ruler, measure box, resolution box, screen Lines, full-screen cross hair, zoom, and customizable pixels per inch. [1.2MB]
Monkeybread Software today released version 3.1 of its REALbasic Plugin Collection. It has a thousand new functions, such as compiling AppleScript code on the fly, compressing files using Stuffit, captureing images from digital cameras, adding global menus to the menu bar on Mac OS X and encrypting data. The plugin adds around 4400 functions, methods and classes to REALbasic. It is $40 for personal/freeware/shareware use and $80 for commercial use. [5.1MB]
Arkeia has its updated its enterprise backup solution with expanded remote access capabilities, embedded supervision functions, and compatibility with the latest tape drive technologies. Arkea 5.1 allows administrators access to the server using a Java Interface, centralized supervision of Arkeia clients on the network with new setup tools that can consult and/or configure clients, support for Mac OS X as a backup client, and other features.
Deep Sky today released BASh v1.8.2, a 4th Dimension component which provides extensive utility functionality for 4D programmers, including a dynamic stack space module for reusing variable space, encoding and cryptography routines, and much, much more. BASh v1.8.2 contains 39 new methods for a total of 452 methods across 31 modules of code. [options]

MacSoft to ship Master of Orion 3 on March 25

03/12, 1:15pm

MacSoft to ship Master of Orion 3 on March 25

MacSoft today announced that Master of Orion 3 has gone gold ("GM") and will ship on March 25, a slight delay from the originally planned March 19th launch: "aster of Orion 3 (MOO3) is a deep, easy-playing strategic-level game evolving the Master of Orion series by modeling the story depth of science-fiction epics like those you've read and seen in the movies or on TV." The disks were handed to the manufacturer earlier this week (Monday), but logistical issues delayed the ship date. The new MacSoft games Website will be live on March 17th.

VideoLan updates freeware VLC 0.52 client

03/12, 9:45am

VideoLan updates freeware VLC 0.52 client

VLC 0.5.2 multimedia player features improved audio quality (especially under Mac OS X), support for new audio formats (audio DV and FLAC), support for streaming of DivX 1/2/3, WMV 1/2 and h/i263 with VLC's stream output and many bug fixes (including the lock-ups under Mac OS X). The freeware cross-plaform multimedia player can be used to read streams from any network or playback local video files. [3.7MB]

Apps: Chartsmith, Still Life, Shorten...

03/12, 8:50am

Apps: Chartsmith, Still Life, Shorten...

Blacksmith has released Chartsmith 1.2, bringing enhancements for Business, Scientific, and AppleScript-built charts and graphs to the charting and graphing application for Mac OS X. Version 1.2 includes drag & drop support for Apple's Keynote, major enhancements to Error Bars, Trend Line equation annotations, an expanded AppleScript interface, and better Excel data import. A free demo is available; it is $130 ($100 for faculty and $70 for students). [2.8MB]
Granted Software released Still Life 2.0, a significant upgrade to its digital image pan and zoom application. Version 2.0 introduces Bezier curved paths, camera rotation, iMovie Project export and OpenGL acceleration along with a host of usability improvements. Still Life provides more control over digital image animation than that provided by the built-in Ken Burns effect and it is also fully compatible with iMovie 2. The $25 application is available for $15 through April 12th. [780KB]
Fidelity Media's MegaSeg 2.6 is an aplication for live DJ mixing and radio station automation systems. MegaSeg 2.6 adds intuitive interface feedback, improved QuickTime video playback via a PowerBook's S-Video output, and sports many usability enhancements; including a menu command to remove duplicates from Playlists, remembered window positions, a new button to access Hot Keys for sound effects, an option to disable the administration password, and filtering of "The" from artist name sorts. It is a free update to the $170 application. [2.6MB]
Shorten 1.1a4, now available for Mac OS X, is a utility for converting audio files to and from a compressed format: "Compression of about 50% is typical. MP3 compression is usually much greater, but unlike MP3 files, shortened files result in no loss of fidelity." [Classic, OSX]
Cycline3 has released a new version of its auction listing and tracking software for Macintosh, Auction Listing Creator 5. The new version features a new updated interface, uses the OS X installer, unlimited auction tracking and has many new features to support OS 10.2 and Apple's new Safari web browser. The $10 utility is available for Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. [2.2MB]
NewTek has confirmed problems with the recent Lightwave 7.5b update: "We have confirmed that there are issues that we need to correct with the Mac version of the 7.5b update, and we are removing the current version from our download areas. We will correct the issues as rapidly as possible, and will post the corrected files for download. Our apologies for any inconvenience."
Publicspace has released a beta version of its A Better Finder Attributes 3.0b1, the first version of the popular Finder file attribute manipulation utility for Mac OS X. It includes the ability to change modification and creation dates, lock and unlock files and hide file extensions on a per file basis. It is $10 shareware. [1.2MB]

Eovia releases PowerPack for Carrara Studio

03/12, 8:50am

Eovia releases PowerPack for Carrara Studio

Eovia has released Power Pack, a set of 14 plug-ins for Carrara Studio 1.1 & 2.1. Power Pack offers users the ability to add fur, hair and similar strands to characters and models, add depth to their objects with displacement mapping, add a starry background to 3D night scenes, or use the new shading functions to develop their own collection of original textures. It includes Anything Grows, Anything Grooves, StarBright, Shader Ops, and a full version of WebXport 2, a plug-in for Carrara Studio 2 to publish textured and animated 3D scenes on the Web. The $100 is available for $10 off through the end of the month.

Camino builds moving to Mozilla source

03/12, 8:45am

Camino builds moving to Mozilla source

Steve Dagley of Netscape provided some notes on recent "nightly builds" of Camino browser for Mac OS X (previously called Chimera): "We're seeing lots of feedback from people that are surprised the current Camino nightly builds aren't as stable as the ones leading up to the 0.7 milestone. This is to be expected as we move to the Mozilla trunk from the old Chimera branch. Some people may enjoy living on the bleeding edge during this transition but for those that don't we suggest sticking with the Camino 0.7 milestone release posted last week."