News Archive for 03/03/27

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Apps: QuickAccessCM, Manic Minefields, ...

03/27, 7:40pm

Apps: QuickAccessCM, Manic Minefields, ...

QuickAccessCM 1.4.4 is a contextual menu plug-in for easy access to frequently used folders, documents and applications. It provides the following independent modules: "Quick Access," "Move To," "Copy To," and "Make Alias In." The latest version adds a number of new features, as well as those created by open-source developers. [Download - 177KB]
Software developer Norbyte has released version 2.1.3 of its Manic Minefields puzzle game for Mac OS 9/X. It is now possible to select to always have a gray background in the game. Additionally, a bug that aborted the import of best times files from Mac to PC or vice versa, has been fixed. Manic Minefields is $10 shareware. "Manic Minefields is really 12 pumped up minesweeping games in one, as it features 12 uniquely designed minefields with beautiful graphics and crisp sound effects, to choose from." [Download - Classic, OS X]
Koingo Software has released Alarm Clock Pro 6.2.2, a small update to its $15 alarm clock solution. Version 6.2.2 adds a handful of bug fixes, the abillity to cycle through windows, and an "Updated" column to the Updates panel in Preferences. [Download - 1.2MB]
Teacup Software has released Workspace Manager 2.0, an Adobe InDesign plug-in that introduces "context sensitive palette workspaces" to the publishing application. The $50 package automatically creates, saves and invokes palette workspaces "without requiring any work from the user." It is compatible with Mac OS 9 or OS X. "Click on a graphic frame, and the workspace for graphic frames appears. Click on a text frame, and the text frame workspace comes up," the developer explains. [Download - 1.2MB]
Northern Softworks has released Jaguar Cache Cleaner 1.7, its $8 shareware OS X maintenance and utility application. It offers flexible OS X system cache cleaning options, flexible Finder cleaning options, ".DS_Store" window settings deletion, repair of disk permissions, resolution of Software Update permissions, Mac OS X maintenance script execution, RAM disk creation, and new features such as killing/restarting the Dock/Finder, non-admin account compatibility, and automation of tasks. [Download - 1.7MB]

Tech: 'Rip, Burn, Respect,' more...

03/27, 5:50pm

Tech: 'Rip, Burn, Respect,' more...

Gateway is launching a high-profile 'Rip, Burn, Respect' ad campaign designed to advertise its digital-music services and educate consumers about what "rights and responsibilities" they have in using digital music; the number of Internet users in the United States will peak at 80 percent of the country's citizens, or about three-fourths of American households; thousands of activists are using emerging technologies to organize protests with lightning speed; soldiers deployed in the Persian Gulf are using online 'blogger' Web journals to get their stories out.

FCP user groups to gather at NAB

03/27, 5:35pm

FCP user groups to gather at NAB

The Final Cut Pro User Group Network, which consists of over 25 FCP User Groups from around the world will gather in Las Vegas, Wednesday, April 9 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel's Tradewinds Ballroom as part of the annual NAB convention. On the Agenda is "Stump the Gurus," an FCP troubleshooting question and answer session with some of the Countries top FCP Gurus. Also, "Meet the FCP Team" where Final Cut Pro Product Designer Brian Meaney will be joined by other members of the FCP Team for a Q and A and demo. Ramy Katrib and Zed Saeed of Digital FilmTree in Los Angeles will show how they online NBC's hit comedy, "Scrubs" using FCP and the AJA Kona Card. Additionally, there will be "Show and Tells," food and drink, and a raffle with prizes totaling close to $21,000. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and seating will be first come, first serve. The FCPUG Network will request a $5.00 at the entrance.

12-inch PowerBook: "a subnote with style"

03/27, 2:20pm

12-inch PowerBook: "a subnote with style"

Apple's new 12" PowerBook is described as "a subnote with style" in an AnchorDesk column. The article notes shortcoming in the battery life and RAM expandability: "Crucial [memory vendor] expects 1GB DIMMs around mid-year, and Apple assured me at a briefing during Macworld San Francisco that such DIMMs will work in the AlBook12's DIMM slot once available." Update: According to Macup in Germany, DSP Memory is already shipping a 1GB DDR RAM module for the 12" PowerBook, costing a pricey 800 Euro ($800) [German site]"

Apple ships replacement MDD Power Supplies

03/27, 1:30pm

Apple ships replacement MDD Power Supplies

One MacNN reader reports receiving his replacement MDD Power Supply from Apple as part of Apple's Power Mac G4 MDD Power Supply Exchange Program: "I just received my replacement power supply and fans for my MDD G4. I hadn't received a shipping notice so I was surprised when it showed this morning." Apple announced this voluntary program late last month to reduce the noise associated with prior generation Power Macs. The program, which was expected to start earlier this month, was delayed due to part shortages.

Apps: RADicode, WebDNA, PhotoKit, TouchCAD

03/27, 10:50am

Apps: RADicode, WebDNA, PhotoKit, TouchCAD

Kanex Group has released new version of its compact MP3 Player: Air Whisper 1.3 offers "high-quality playback and easy browsing of MP3 files, while takes much less system resources than other MP3 players." It runs on Mac OS 9/X, has a skinnable interface, features a hierarchical album list, and supports multiple sorting options, keyboard commands, CBR and VBR files, multilingual ID3 tags, and other advanced options. A 30-day demo is available. [270KB]
Solidwave Software is shipping RADicode 1.1, the latest version of its rapid application development tool for Macintosh programmers. It allows programmers to prototype and test application interfaces with REALbasic from REAL Software and then move them directly into PowerPlant from Metrowerks. RADicode 1.1 supports Mach-O PowerPlant targets and REALbasic 4.5 and 5.0; it can generate Mac OS X and Classic icons and multiple document types from REALbasic. A demo of the $150 software is available.
Smith Micro has released a new version of its WebDNA web application development tools. WebDNA 5.0 introduces XML document parsing and validation, XSLT translation, and XPath Query support, a Web Services Wizard, an IDE 'Lab', WebDNA Language Extensions, an ISP Sandbox and support for WSDL, XML, and XSLT. The Enterprise Edition ($5000) helps workgroups organize and control the development process via its browser-enabled Workgroup Content Management technology. The Developer edition is free, while other licensing option start at $500.
PhotoKit 1.1 is a photographer's plug-in toolkit with 141 effects that offer accurate digital replications of analog photographic effects. The image enhancements and adjustments can be recorded into an extensive Photoshop Action for increased productivity. The $50 offers effects in categories such as B&W Toning, Burn Tone, Color Balance, Dodge Tone Set, Image Enhancement, Sharpening, and Smoothing.
Lundstrom Design has updated TouchCAD 3.0, its 3D modeling/CAD program which focuses on the ability to generate complex 3D shapes and converting them into physically buildable models, according to Architosh. The application can be used for a wide range of tasks such as marine design, production of soft material based objects such as tents, blimps, inflatable objects, reversed engineering where copies of existing objects are being recreated, sheet metal objects, industrial and architectural design, sculptures, etc.

Media looks at Gore app't to Apple Board

03/27, 10:50am

Media looks at Gore app't to Apple Board

Both The Baltimore Sun and Business Week Online look at Apple's recent appointment of Al Gore to its Board of Directors:

[BW] "With its stock price down over the past two years, the last thing Apple shareholders want or need is a celebrity director with zero business experience, aside from the business of fund-raising and politicking. Gore might make a wonderful contribution to Apple in some other capacity. But Jobs & Co. should think long and hard about the message it sends to shareholders with this appointment."

[TBS] "Considering that most corporate board members have deep experience in managing for-profit operations, years of government service and ownership of a Macintosh seem thin qualifications. 'I cannot identify anything he can contribute to the board,' said Charles Wolf, an analyst with New York-based investment bank Needham & Co. 'He hasn't been in private industry, he hasn't been a manager at any point in his career, he has no background in economics.'"

Marathon debuts M-Rack equipment rack

03/27, 10:20am

Marathon debuts M-Rack equipment rack

Marathon has introduced a new equipment rack cabinet specially designed to accommodate devices as deep as Xserve, Apple's rackmount server: "The new M-Rack ships flat, yet assembles into an extremely strong and rigid unit. The frames, top cap and bottom cap are symmetrical and the entire unit uses only one size bolt for ease of assembly using a single 5mm Allen wrench (included)." The M-Rack accommodates equipment 30 inches deep and stands 40U tall and comes with heavy-weight anti-tip plates for all four sides. The $1,100 rack is constructed of heavy-gauge extruded aluminum with a silvery satin finish, and comes with four heavy-duty, low-profile, roller-bearing, full-swivel casters, each rated at 500 LBs. Leveling feet are also included for stationary installations.

Macromedia debuts internet app delivery

03/27, 10:05am

Macromedia debuts internet app delivery

Macromedia today unveiled Macromedia Central, which extends Macromedia Flash beyond the browser and provides "a streamlined way for users to interact with information while freeing them from relying on an Internet connection. [It] delivers an application metaphor to tackle this new world of information by providing instant delivery of applications, a try/buy infrastructure, support for occasionally connected computing, cooperative applications, and open data formats." Central ships with try/buy functionality, as well as a transaction infrastructure to enable end users to easily purchase applications and evelopers will be able to leverage the product's software update feature to ensure their users always have the latest version of their software. Central ships with an Application Finder to enable users to find details, cost, popularity rating, and other relevant information about specific applications. It will be free and will ship this summer.

Music Now not compatible with Macs

03/27, 10:05am

Music Now not compatible with Macs

A MacNN reader notes that the new music service, Music Now by Full Audio, is not Mac compatible: "If you try to sign up, you are told that their service requires Windows because of 'Windows Media Player technology'. Their service costs $10/month and for 99 cents you can burn any song or download it to a portable device." Several different reports have surfaced indicating that Apple has plans to introduce its own online music service for the Mac.

Vintage Power Computing posters available

03/27, 10:00am

Vintage Power Computing posters available

RedLightRunner.com today added four Power Computing poster designs to its online collection of Apple Logo Collectibles. The posters, designed by Frank Kozik,are from Power Computing's "Fight Back for the Mac" campaign (1996-97) and are very limited in availability. Two of the posters are serigraphs, and two are lithographs and feature the "Who invited Billy?" design, and the "You can take my Mac when you pry my cold dead fingers off the mouse" design, along with two other designs.

Sonnet announces Tempo ATA/IDE Cable Kits

03/27, 9:50am

Sonnet announces Tempo ATA/IDE Cable Kits

Sonnet has introduced new Tempo ATA/IDE Cable Kits, which include custom-made and pre-folded cables for easy installation in supported Power Mac G3/G4 machines. Each cable kit supports up to four internal large drives. Sonnet offers two different models: The TCB-MDS model contains two cables specially designed and folded to support four drives in the Power Mac G4 "Mirror Door" (ships with all Tempo RAID133 products, but can be purchased separately) and the TCB-AGP model, which contains two cables designed and folded to support four drives in Power Mac G4 AGP, Gigabit Ethernet, Digital Audio and Quicksilver machines. This version also supports three drives in the Blue & White and PCI Graphics machines. The TCB-AGP cable kit includes eight drive mounting screws and a "Y" power connector. Both models will be available at the end of the month for $30.

MatchMover Professional 3.0 to ship for OS X

03/27, 9:45am

MatchMover Professional 3.0 to ship for OS X

RealViz will debut MatchMover Professional 3.0 at NAB 2003, its high-end, post-production video application. The company will ship a new Mac OS X version in Fall 2003. The application tracks 3D camera data and motion from videos and film sequences, while offering users the ability to move smoothly back and forth between Automatic and Manual processes, with no interruption of workflow. Version 3.0 will also feature handling of motion control data, 3D object model-based tracking, 3D tracking of cameras and multiple objects in the same session, handling of survey points. and new graph editor toolbox.

Formac launches Oxygen LCD monitor line

03/27, 9:30am

Formac launches Oxygen LCD monitor line

Formac today announced the launch of its Oxygen line of LCD monitors. The aggressively priced line of flat panel displays feature the same progressive design and advanced TFT technology, but "corresponds with a standardized warranty and pixel policy." For a limited time, Formac is offering the Gallery 2010 (20" LCD) for $1000 and its the 17.4-inch Oxygen LCD for $500. The pricing promotion expires April 15th 2003.

PCC unveils new BookEndz Docking Station

03/27, 6:35am

PCC unveils new BookEndz Docking Station

Photo Control Corporation has released a new BookEndz Docking Station for the Apple's 12-inch PowerBook G4. BookEndz is a popular line of docking stations for Apple laptop computers that enables the user to convert from a portable system to a "complete desktop system" (external monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.) rapidly. The new docking station connects to all of the connectors and ports from the side of the 12” PowerBook and route the connectors to the back of the dock. It also converts RGB to VGA. The new dock will be available for delivery in May 2003.