News Archive for 03/07/14

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Macworld expo week promotions

07/14, 5:35pm

Macworld expo week promotions

Bare Bones Software today announced its "Online Show Special" with a T-shirt giveaway for this week only in honor of the Macworld CreativePro Conference & Expo being held in New York. Available today through Friday, July 18th, a free Bare Bones Software 10th Anniversary T-shirt is included with any direct order for BBEdit, TextWrangler and Mailsmith, including upgrades. In addition to the T-shirt giveaway, special prices are offered for BBEdit 7.0 at $150 and for Mailsmith 2.0 at $80.
The online Apple Store has launched "Easy On Your Budget," a new promotion that allows you to get a Mac for as little as $20 per month with no payments until 2004.

Apple releases Security Update 2003-07-14

07/14, 5:05pm

Apple releases Security Update 2003-07-14

Apple today released Security Update 2003-07-14 via the Mac OS X Software Update, which addresses a potential vulnerability when a password is required upon waking from the Screen Effects feature, which could allow an unauthorized user access to the desktop of the logged in user.

Parliant debuts PhoneValet at Macworld Expo

07/14, 4:35pm

Parliant debuts PhoneValet at Macworld Expo

Parliant today announced PhoneValet, a single or multi-line computer/telephony solution designed for Mac OS X. The solution combines software and a USB-based telephone adapter to help manage telephone calls from any USB-equipped Mac. Users can organize and maintain contact information, dial phone numbers, perform custom call actions (email, page, etc.), log all calls, as well as enable audible speech alerts for announcing incoming calls and voice-activated dialing. Pricing starts at $130 with additional lines costing $100 each. It is expected to ship this week at Macworld Expo (Booth 765).

Apps: QuickImageCM, VideoScript, disclabel ..

07/14, 4:30pm

Apps: QuickImageCM, VideoScript, disclabel ..

QuickImageCM 2.1 Public Preview Beta is a major update to the contextual menu plug-in for Mac OS X for displaying graphic image files without launching any application. Many new features have been added, including basic photo retouch/editing features, printing, undo, revert, and so on. [Download - 709KB]
VideoScript 3.0.4a is "the perfect tool" for getting started with Digital Video processing. The latest alpha release is for Mac OS X only, and offers a Cocoa GUI. Designed for educational and home use, VideoScript is still powerful enough to log visitors, analyze movie files, track objects and make time & motion-lapse movies. It supports a number of formats and applications. [Download - CLI (req'd), GUI]
SmileOnMyMac today introduced disclabel, which helps users make labels for their CDs, DVDs, and related materials. It requires Mac OS X and costs $30 to register. It includes templates, compatibility with Apple's iLife suite, many printer options, and localizations for many languages. [Download - 2.9MB]
Sonny Software has released Bookends 7.6, a Mac-only full-featured bibliography/reference and information management system for professionals and students. It brings /integration with Nisus Writer Express, better drag & drop support, improved BibTeX style support, and other enhancements. A limited version (only 50 references) of the $100 application is available; upgrades are $30. [Classic, OSX]
Niemeijer Consult has released SwitchXS ($150), its "switch access software for Mac OS X. [It] provides virtually complete access to Mac OS X and all standard Mac applications for people who can only use a single switch, offering full mouse and keyboard emulation by means of a so-called scanning mode. With each click on the switch the user selects an action." [Download - 770KB]
iCanary 1.0 scans FileMaker databases and displays the security holes poor programming and design can open. Developers can determine whether their data is publicly accessible, including field calculations, all database fields, and all database layouts for any open FileMaker file. The $30 application for Mac OS 9/ is $20 until September 21. [Download - Classic, OSX]
DivX Video 5.0.7 for the Mac adds the ability for the DivX AVI Importer to handles the importing of DivX AVIs with MP3/IMA ADPCM/AC3 audio. Version 5.0.7 of the video codec also includes a handful of bug fixes. A 'Pro' version is also available for $30. [Download - 2.6MB]
iKey is an "at-your-fingertips" automation tool that increases your efficiency on the computer. It allows you to execute countless combination commands, that would otherwise take several steps. Version 1.02 adds a number of new features: most notably Floating palettes, which allow the user to execute commands from a floating window. [Download - 1.7MB]
Macaroni 1.4.2 is an update to Atomic Bird's shareware ($8) which handles regular maintenance for Mac OS X, including the Mac OS X "repair privileges" process as well as Unix-style maintenance. This release improves system responsiveness if a scheduled maintenance task is running while the Mac is in use and now supports Apple's "special" permissions for system files. [456KB]
GlobalSCAPE has released beta of CuteFTP for Mac OS X, the popular ftp client for Windows machines. It includes support for local/remote views, drag & drop, contextual menus, bookmarks, auto-resume transfers, multiple host support, file/folder management, manual ftp, and link handling. It is $40 with a $20 discount offered through July 18th.
Openlab is a modular imaging program designed specifically for multi-user scientific imaging. Openlab consists of a core program and an extensive range of modules. The core program is designed for image acquisition, measurement, presentation and publication. [Download - 9.4MB]

Macworld Creative Pro attendance low

07/14, 3:40pm

Macworld Creative Pro attendance low

The East Coast's annual Mac developer summer trade show kicked-off today under a new name, but attendees might dub it "Macworld Lite," according to The San Francisco Chronicle. The five-day Macworld Creative Pro Conference and Expo -- possibly the last Macworld to be held in New York City -- might not draw even half as many attendees and exhibitors as last year's, according to editor Benny Evangelista. "[It] surely will not come close to the nearly 90,000 attendees at the annual Macworld Expo in San Francisco in January," Evangelista says. Apple's Chief Executive Steve Jobs isn't scheduled to deliver a keynote address or introduce new products as he has in past years.

Steinberg to release Nuendo DTS Encoder

07/14, 3:25pm

Steinberg to release Nuendo DTS Encoder

Steinberg's Nuendo DTS Encoder software for Mac OS X will debut this week at the MacWorld CreativePro expo. It incorporates the DTS Coherent Acoustics audio compression algorithm. This technology makes a reproduction standard available on the consumer market "as good as that found in professional studios." One of the world's leading surround formats, DTS is featured on over 20,000 movie screens worldwide as well as countless home theater, PCs, game console products, and 5.1 Music, DVD-Audio and Video discs. "All routines are automated, you merely need to specify the files that are to be encoded," explains the developer. Nuendo DTS Encoder will cost approximately €850.

StageTools offers image animation plug-in

07/14, 2:20pm

StageTools offers image animation plug-in

StageTools has unveiled MovingParts, a new plug-in that works with most major nonlinear editing systems (Premier, FCP, Avid, etc.) to create smooth moves directly from the editor's timeline. It can be used for animating logos and other images, creating animatics, highlighting action, and blurring or pixelating faces. MovingParts is priced at $130; MovingPicture users can add MovingParts for $80. StageTools has also released MovingPicture 4.7, which brings minor changes to the application that allows documentary and industrial filmmakers to pan and zoom on high resolution images (up to 8,000 by 8,000 pixels). Prices for the full version start at $200.

Panic, Iconfactory launch Pixadex

07/14, 2:00pm

Panic, Iconfactory launch Pixadex

Panic & The Iconfactory have teamed-up to develop Pixadex, a new Mac OS X application that lets users import, organize and search large numbers of icons. Billed as an "iPhoto for icons," it also lets allows users to instantly export their icons in a variety of graphic formats -- even copy and paste them directly into Photoshop. In addition, Pixadex comes complete with a new, exclusive iContainer called "On Safari," by Iconfactory artist Dave Brasgalla. Pixadex is shareware, and is available today from The Iconfactory for $19.

Pacific Image bundles SilverFast w/ PrimeFilm

07/14, 1:00pm

Pacific Image bundles SilverFast w/ PrimeFilm

Pacific Image Electronics announced today that it is bundling LaserSoft's SilverFast SE 6.0 with its popular PrimeFilm 1800 Silver film scanner. The SilverFast software will give users the ability to improve the appearance of scanned images. The PF1800 Silver is priced at $240 and is an "affordable, yet powerful" tool targeted for the needs of desktop publishers, graphic and Web designers, photographers and PC/photo enthusiasts. The unit, which is 1.65 pounds and measures just 10.5 X 6.5 X 2.5 inches, connects via USB port.

PowerFile introduces MDX line

07/14, 12:40pm

PowerFile introduces MDX line

PowerFile today announced the availability of its new "optical storage libraries" for networks. The C200 and R200 MFX are priced at $2800 and $4800, respectively, and offer access to up to 200 CDs or DVDs over a network. The R200 enables users to publish and catalog data, using its CD/DVD write capabilities. The MDX line uses a 19" rack mount enclosure and offers compatibility with Mac OS X and Windows.

OWC ships new low-cost 800MHz upgrade

07/14, 12:05pm

OWC ships new low-cost 800MHz upgrade

Other World Computing has begun shipping an 800MHz Mercury Extreme G4 processor upgrade for the Power Mac G4. It is the latest in OWC's popular Mercury Extreme line and is available immediately for $270. The Mercury Extreme processor upgrades are "true plug-and-play solutions" that do not use or require enabling software. The Mercury Extreme G4 processor upgrades feature 256 Kilobytes of 1:1 L2 cache on-chip and 2 Megabytes of high-speed L3 cache. Also shipping are Mercury Extreme G4 1.26GHz and 1.467GHz models priced at $500 and $690, respectively.

Former Apple Director joins Elgato Software

07/14, 11:55am

Former Apple Director joins Elgato Software

Elgato today announced that Freddie Geier, formerly Senior Director of Business Development at Apple, is joining the company as its new President and CEO: "We are thrilled to have Freddie with us. His tremendous knowledge of the multimedia software industry and the Macintosh marketplace are just what we need to take the organization to the next level." Geier joined Apple in early 2000, after Apple acquired the DVD software developed by Astarte, where he had General Manager responsibilities. Gear managed important application development projects as well as strategic business development tasks such as the acquisition of Emagic.

Kodak debuts Mac version of Photoshop plugin

07/14, 11:55am

Kodak debuts Mac version of Photoshop plugin

Eastman Kodak Company today introduced the Mac version of the Digital GEM plug-in for automatic noise and grain reduction. The Digital GEM plug-in is the newest addition to the software suite of image correction and enhancement plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop. The Digital GEM plug-in allows users to automatically isolate and manage noise/grain in both highlight and shadow areaw. It also offers portrait studio quality, soft-focus effects, as well as image sharpening as well as reduces or removes JPEG image artifacts and line screen patterns from flatbed scans. A free trial of the $80 plugin is available.

Softpress Freeway shown at CreativePro

07/14, 11:30am

Softpress Freeway shown at CreativePro

Softpress will be showing all three additions to its Freeway range of Web-authoring products at this week's MacWorld CreativePro expo. Freeway Pro, Freeway Express and its new FAST Pack technology are the company's highlights this year. The new flagship, Freeway Pro 3.5 ($180 at expo), provides an improved user experience and extra functionality. The 'Express version' ($80 at expo) is intended for consumer use and offersbasic features. Two new FAST (Freeway Advanced Site Tools) Packs, available for both the Pro and Express versions, add significantly to Freeway’s core functionality.

MTV 2 show looks at iTunes store, iPod

07/14, 11:10am

MTV 2 show looks at iTunes store, iPod

MacNN reader Gabriel Botnick reports that this past week's edition of 'The Wrap' on MTV 2 looked at Apple's iTunes Music Store and its role in the struggle against online piracy. The show's topic of debate was RIAA's plans to take legal action against music swappers. "[Host] Gideon Yago pointed out that any attempt to solve the pirating issue was too little too late on behalf of the Recording Industry, but that Apple's attempt has been wildly successful and innovative at the same time." Also featured were the iPod and iTunes.

FirmTek unveils SeriTek host adapter

07/14, 10:35am

FirmTek unveils SeriTek host adapter

FirmTek announced today the debut of its new SeriTek/1S2 Serial ATA PCI host adapter, the first of many such solutions from the company's new line of SeriTek products. The SeriTek/1S2 "boosts overall system performance offering data transfer rates of up to 150MBytes/sec or 1.5Gbits/sec," according to the manufacturer "resulting in high SCSI-like performance and data protection, without the SCSI price." It utilizes Serial ATA's longer, thinner, fully insulated cables and smaller 7-pin connectors. It will begin shipping mid-August, with estimated retail pricing starting at $70.

IOGear debuts USB Optical Mini Mouse

07/14, 10:05am

IOGear debuts USB Optical Mini Mouse

IOGear today unveiled its new USB Optical Mini Mouse 800, the flagship product in its new MiniMouse 800 lineup. The device is smaller than a credit card, allows users to select from 400, 600 or 800 dpi resolution, works on virtually any surface, and needs just a few inches for accurate movement. It costs $30 and is available for Mac OS X from many resellers.

Webcast to preview OS X 10.3 Server

07/14, 9:20am

Webcast to preview OS X 10.3 Server

A sneak peek at what Mac OS X 10.3 Server has to offer will be available via webcast on Wednesday, July 23 from MacOSXlabs.org. "What's New in Panther Server" will be presented by Eric Zelenka of Apple Computer, the Product Line Manager for Server Software. It will run from 10:00 am to 11:30 am (PST). During the webcast, viewers will be able to ask questions which may be addressed during the live Q & A session.

Apps: Impression, Julius, Server Sentinel...

07/14, 9:10am

Apps: Impression, Julius, Server Sentinel...

Impression 1.65 brings number of bug fixes and UI improvements to the backup application for Mac OS X. Various application flow issues have been addressed, and several backup engine bugs have been cured. Impression has also been recompiled and tested with the current version of Panther. After July 15th, Impression's price will increase to $25 from $20. [Download - 559KB]
Intelli Innovations today released Server Sentinel 2.3, an update to its server monitoring software for Mac OS 9. The update is the final release of the software, which has been assigned "End-Of-Life" status. Server Sentinel is now free, and the update locks the software in "registered" mode. [Download - 1.4MB]
Antilog has released Julius I.0.0, the first release of its free roman-number converter for the Macintosh. Julius is a simple converter for the translation of numbers written with arabic digits into roman digits. Julius is easy to use -- simply write the number, click on the convert button, and the roman version is displayed in a copy-enabled field. [Download - 79KB]
Beeper Pro 1.0.3 is an update to the application that seamlessly play and manage a customizable list of sound effects. Version 1.0.3 is a minor update that includes a simplified folder system, and a PDF User's Manual for the Mac OS 9 version. It costs $20 to upgrade the standard (free) Beeper Pro to the 'Studio' version. [Download - 697KB]
NewTek today released the third edition of its Texture Collection. As with the earlier editions, this new set includes fifty high-resolution textures available for free download. NewTek plans to release additional sets of high-resolution textures "from time to time." Subjects covered in the third set of textures include Wood, Metal, Sky, Nature, and Stone. [Download - registration required]
Time Palette 5.4.2 and EarthDesk 2.0.2 have been revised with a new political map. In addition, during the MacWorld CreativePro Conference & Expo in New York (July 14-18), registration pricing for Time Palette has been reduced to $25, while EarthDesk has been reduced to $15. Time Palette provides extensive features for the international business traveler; EarthDesk replaces your static desktop picture with an animated, real-time rendered image of the Earth. [Download - EarthDesk, Time Palette]
WordBox 3.0 for PalmOS is a word search game very similar to the Parker Brothers game Boggle with "many more features, options, and fun!" It supports one to six players, limits time to two to five minutes, includes 175,000 words, and offers four scoring options. WordBox was developed using Mac OS X. [Download - 697KB]
KisMAC 0.05c is one of the few 'stumbler' applications for OS X that will detect hidden networks and put an Airport card into monitoring mode without sending probe requests. This version includes the ability to decrypt ethercap files and has a few additions to "make KisMAC more user-friendly." [Download - 2.6MB]
MacMAME 0.71 is part of the MAME project, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of arcade videogames via emulation. Version 0.71 is now OS X-only, and as such all existing game plug-ins must be re-written. The update also offers smarter ROM audits and is in sync with the Windows version. [Download - temporarily unavailable]

Sophos to debut Sophos Anti-Virus for OS X

07/14, 8:25am

Sophos to debut Sophos Anti-Virus for OS X

Sophos announced it will introduce its new anti-virus product, Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac OS X, at the Macworld Expo this week. The native Mac OS X version includes new security features, such as the ability to prevent users from uninstalling the product. The company says it will offer an SDK to third-party developers for incorporation of the product into other security products as well. Sophos Anti-Virus checks local hard disks, removable media and networks, operating in on-access and on-demand modes and can intelligently determine which files need to be checked for minimal performance overhead. It is expected to ship in August, while a beta version is available now.

Apple to open store in Lyndhurst, Ohio

07/14, 8:10am

Apple to open store in Lyndhurst, Ohio

Apple is expected to open a retail store in Lyndhurst, Ohio, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer. The report says that Apple has committed to lease space at Legacy Village, a 615,000-square-foot mall expected to open in October. Other tenants include April Cornell, Acorn and Ben & Jerry's, The Cheesecake Factory, Crate & Barrel, Talbots and Joseph Beth Booksellers. Meanwhile, MacNN reader Jason Bundy has posted photos of the grand opening of the Apple Store Walnut Creek over the weekend as well as brief report:

iTunes Music Store for Canada in the Fall?

07/14, 8:00am

iTunes Music Store for Canada in the Fall?

The Globe and Mail reports that the iTunes Music Store may be available to Canadian users as early as this Fall, after the CRIA" completes negotiations to set up a framework for paying music publishers and composers whose music is downloaded on pay-for-play system. That will allow Canadian-based services to start operations, he said, and allow U.S. systems such as Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes 'music store' to expand into Canada."

FutureShop.ca selling Macs online

07/14, 7:55am

FutureShop.ca selling Macs online

Several readers note that Canadian electronics dealer FutureShop, owned by Best Buy, now has an extensive Apple section on its Website, including: desktop computers, notebooks, wireless networking, portable audio and supporting software and peripherals. Other reports suggest that Apple may also begin selling Macs at the company's retail stores around Canada in a program similar to CompUSA's "store within a store" concept. The company announced the new "store within a store" on its Website earlier this month.

Alera debuts 8-in-1 DVD-R solution

07/14, 7:40am

Alera debuts 8-in-1 DVD-R solution

Alera Technologies has unveiled its new DVD Quad Cruiser, an external DVD recorder based on Dual Standard 8-in-1 DVD±R/RW Technology, supporting all popular DVD formats, including DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-ROM. The DVD Quad Cruiser is an external 4x DVD Recorder with USB 2.0 connectivity. It writes DVD±R at 4x, DVD-RW at 2x, DVD+RW at 2.4x, CD-R at 16x and CD-RW at 10x. It also reads DVD-ROM and DVD-Video, DVD±R, DVD±RW, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-DA (Audio CD), CD-ROM (Mode 1&2), CD-ROM XA, Video CD, Photo-CD (Single or Multi-session), CD-Extra, CD Plus, CD-Text, and Hybrid CD forats. The $400 drive is also available with an optional Macintosh A-Connect FireWire Connection Kit ($100), which bundles Charismac's Discribe DVD/CD creation software.

TD Waterhouse Website lacks Safari support

07/14, 7:25am

TD Waterhouse Website lacks Safari support

MacNN reader Colin Rose that TD Waterhouse's recent Website overhaul does not support Safari, noting that the site causes JavaScript errors. "We apologize for any inconvenience you have experienced. WebBroker is designed for [...] home access for the Macintosh with most versions of Internet Explorer and Netscape. Regretfully, WebBroker is currently incompatible with the Safari browser, which is the new browser specifically tailored for Apple, and likely to be the future standard for the Macintosh OS. However, we have passed on your concerns about Safari not being supported to our development team, and please trust that we will look at the feasibility of supporting it in the future."