News Archive for 03/04/11

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Apps: Monitorer, Complete Apache, Safe Place

04/11, 11:55pm

Apps: Monitorer, Complete Apache, Safe Place

Monitorer X 1.1 is a Mac OS X extension that records every keystroke in the background and saves it to a text file. "It also can take screenshots so you can view what other people were doing on your computer," explains the developer. With the latest version, you can choose between seven different screenshot compression qualities. [Download - 1.6MB]
Complete Apache 2.0.45 is an update to the "easiest way to install and setup an Apache 2 Web server on Mac OS X." Version 2.0.45 includes a number of enhancements to the Apache 2 preferences pane, as well as many bug fixes. This version also includes fixes to recently announced security issues with Apache 2, so all users are encouraged to upgrade. [Download - 6.6MB]
mere-mortal Software has released Safe Place, a $10 application designed to securely store your passwords, credit card numbers, software registration numbers, or "any other information you want to keep handy and safe from prying eyes." It is available for Mac OS X only. [Download - 4.4MB]

Analyst: don't expect Apple phone

04/11, 6:00pm

Analyst: don't expect Apple phone

Mac fans are clamoring for Apple to develop its own cell phone, but Wireless Supersite Editor Ross Rubin explains why the company "won't phone home." Rubin says that control over distribution is paramount at Apple: "In Steve's world, distribution is a necessary evil; I can just see him storming around the board room, asking Al Gore why users can't just come to Cupertino to pick up their Macs." Rubin compares the potential situation to that of Apple's retail experience, in which it resorted to opening its own stores: "the company wants to control so much of the user experience -- from your presentation package to your email address -- that if it could break even delivering its own products instead of using Airborne Express, it would."

Apps: Impression, Xupport, Stimulus, Lightbox

04/11, 4:10pm

Apps: Impression, Xupport, Stimulus, Lightbox

Impression 1.1 is a $20 backup utility used to back up directories to (and restore them from) multiple optical discs (CD-R, CD-RW, and DVD-R are supported). It includes a utility for erasing rewritable discs. It now supports incremental/differential backups, support for session documents to recall any previous backup state, and handles burn preferences on a per-disc basis. [466KB]
Xupport 1.2.9 provides a clean GUI to configure many Mac OS X system 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. Version 1.29 a new command to create symbolic links in the Browser; list last logins of users and ttys; more firewall examples (Stealth mode; and an actualized network port list. [423KB]
tin:b Software has released TurboTool 2.2, a shareware utility that can graphically compose 'actions' which are built from 'atomics', i.e. basic components like shell or AppleScripts, service calls or copy/paste. 'Actions' run either within TurboTool or can be created as a droplet application. It includes enhancements for compatibility with Mac OS X 10.2, adds AppleScript support and fixes minor bugs. The license is $15 after the demonstration period until May. [4.1MB]
Electric Butterfly has released Stimulus 3 for Mac OS 9. The $15 shareware multimedia player will play MP3s, view photos, and perform other multimedia actions such as a play slideshow, adjust volume, adjust treble/bass, create play lists, and search your collection. It is already available for Mac OS 9. [Classic, OSX]
Andreas Pardeike has updated the LOOPS screensaver series with a brand new screensaver called "LOOPS Disco" and a free "LOOPS Teaser" screensaver that shows our engine. The collection features Aqua, Fireplace, Laundry, and Stream modules. Each module is $1.50. Only the LOOPS Teaser, displaying a Newton Scale, is available for download. [1.5MB]
Lightbox 1.0.1, a free update to the $25 professional photo management program for Mac OS X, is now available. It includes over 50 new features including an iPhoto importer, the ability to use Lightbox albums in iDVD/iMovie, the option not to copy images into the storage location, simultaneous jpeg/raw shooting support, improved image previews, faster histograms, and other changes. [2.0MB]

AAPL drops, Apple bid jeopordized

04/11, 3:45pm

AAPL drops, Apple bid jeopordized

Shares of Apple tumbled almost 9 percent on Friday on concern that its talks with Vivendi Universal to buy the Universal Music Group could yield a deal that would deplete Apple's cash trove and push it into an uncertain and troubled market. Meanwhile, Billionaire oilman Marvin Davis said he would drop his bid to acquire the entertainment assets of Franco-American conglomerate Vivendi Universal if Vivendi sells Universal Music to Apple, which could jeopordize Apple's bid: "The shares dropped $1.27 to $13.10 on Nasdaq in midafternoon trade. It was the biggest one-day percentage drop for the stock since last July."

Mandrake Linux 9.1 now available

04/11, 1:15pm

Mandrake Linux 9.1 now available

Mandrake Linux 9.1, code-named "Bamboo", is now available for PowerPC processors. This new release provides all Mandrake 9.1 features, including Apache 2, "Zeroconf" network support and WiFi support. Mandrake 9.1 also offers simplified graphical installer, a new "MandrakeGalaxy" theme, stunning anti-aliased fonts, and the new KDE 3.1 and GNOME 2.2 desktop environments. Mandrake 9.1/PPC is based on Linux kernel 2.4.21 and includes XFree86 4.3.0, KDE 3.1, GNOME 2.2, OpenOffice.org 1.0.2, Mozilla 1.3, Apache 2, and Samba 2.2.7. It also includes Mac-On-Linux, full support for newest hardware and new sleep code for Apple laptops, and support for all PCI-based Macs. CDs are $35.

Apps: Vokator, eSuite4X, MailVoiceClip

04/11, 9:05am

Apps: Vokator, eSuite4X, MailVoiceClip

Native Instruments has released Vokator, its "revolutionary vocoder that defines a new standard for transparency, detail, and smoothness. It is not only an exceptional vocoder, but also a sophisticated synthesizer, a granular sampler, and a virtualsound-fusion laboratory. The $300 application uses 1024 bands.
eSuite4X 2.5 - MySQL4 Edition allows users to install MySQL ("in under 5 minutes"), start/stop and configure MySQL using a System Preference Pane, easily view log and configuration files with the integrated Log & Config File Manager, and graphically manage users, databases, tables, indexes, server status, create queries, import and export data etc. with the integrated SQL4X Manager J. A demo of the $100 application is available online. [7.7MB]
Acrux software's MailVoiceClip is a Mac OS X Cocoa application for sending voice-clips by e-mail. Users can record a voice-clip and immediately send it by e-mail (or alternatively attach it to an email message). The received voice recording can be played by both Mac and PC users. The $10 shareware requires Mac OS X 10.2 and an internal/external microphone. [500KB]

LA Times: Apple may buy Universal Music

04/11, 9:05am

LA Times: Apple may buy Universal Music

The LA Times reports that Apple is in talks to buy Universal Music for as much as $6 billion: "In a pairing that would alter the architecture of the music business, Apple Computer Inc. is in talks with Vivendi Universal to buy Universal Music Group, the world's largest record company... The discussions, a closely held secret for several months, could founder over unresolved issues. Apple hasn't made a formal bid but may offer $5 billion to $6 billion for the music company before Vivendi's April 29 board meeting, according to the sources."

"People close to Jobs say he is convinced that the music industry is about to turn a corner in the copyright war. With the government shutting down pirate Web sites and the record industry now going after individuals for alleged piracy, the Apple chief believes digital theft will become increasingly more complicated, prompting fans to migrate to legitimate services, sources said."

KB: date/time fix, CDs in Classic, more...

04/11, 8:45am

KB: date/time fix, CDs in Classic, more...

KB roundup: Apple says that Mac OS X 10.2.5 fixes the date reset problem introduced in Mac OS X 10.2.4; Classic may not recognize some CD-ROMs when inserted after the Classic environment is launched; Mac OS X 10.2.3 or later may not complete installation and will quit without an error message, if the 128MB minimum memory requirement is not met; and Apple describes how to change the location of the default FTP root directory (FTPRoot).