News Archive for 03/07/31

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iTrip prohibited in U.K. by 1949 law

07/31, 4:40pm

iTrip prohibited in U.K. by 1949 law

Use of Griffin Technology's iTrip device has been prohibited by U.K. authorities, reports AM Micro, distributor of the device in the U.K. iTrip is an FM transmitter for Apple's iPod. It transmits music from the digital audio player on the FM wavelength, which can then be picked up by a radio. "Use of the iTrip in the UK constitutes an offence and can lead to prosecution of the user, dealer and seizure of all iTrips in the UK," writes AM Micro managing director Steve Hawkins.

Apps: DVTimeLapse, CalcPlus, ICQ, Flocks...

07/31, 4:25pm

Apps: DVTimeLapse, CalcPlus, ICQ, Flocks...

CornerClick 0.1 allows users to assign actions to each corner of the screen in Mac OS X. The screen corners can act like four stationary buttons. CornerClick's settings are accessible via a Preference Pane. [Download - 265KB]
A final version of ICQ 3.4 is now available for download. ICQ is a free multi-platform instant messaging service. Version 3.4 enables you to add AIM and AOL users to your contact list and chat with them. [Download - 3.7MB]
With a digital camcorder connected to a Mac, DVTimeLapse 0.30 creates a QuickTime movie file from frames taken at a user-specified interval. Frame capture can be either manually or automatically initiated and ceased. The latest version is a maintenance update. [Download - 87KB]
CalcPlus X is a full-featured scientific calculator with an integrated metric and currency converter. It is a Cocoa application and has been built from the ground up for Mac OS X. All the functions normally expected in a scientific calculator are available. [Download - 87KB]
Flocks 10.0.2 is a screen saver Module for Mac OS X based on the Windows OpenGL screen saver made by Terence Welsh. Version 10.0.2 adds a new German localization. [Download - 67KB]
HtmlMap Maker 2.2 is a tool that helps create image maps, such as site navigation bars. Version 2.2 adds several options, including browser previewing, and also corrects a number of bugs. [Download - 375MB]
Camera Bits recently released version 3.0 of Photo Mechanic, a digital camera image browser. It offers batch captioning, renaming, speedy browsing, and Photoshop connectivity features. Version 3.0 delivers Mac OS X compatibility. [Download - 1009KB]

Readers: iSight problems, solutions

07/31, 3:55pm

Readers: iSight problems, solutions

MacNN reader Cedric Pinsonnault says that Apple's iSight may not necessarily work well with wireless networks: "An Apple tech told me that Apple has noted a problem with iSight camera used on AirPort or third-party wireless networks afecting the number of 'packets' being transmitted to the point of making video chat imposible. I am experiencing this problem, and the only cure is to connect directly to the Internet--without Airport." [Limiting iChat's bandwidth usage may help relieve the problem.] Meanwhile, another reader was able to the use a DV camcorder with iChat AV on his G3 machine using the iChatUSBCam utility noted yesterday.

Ricoh debuts flatbed scanner option

07/31, 3:40pm

Ricoh debuts flatbed scanner option

Ricoh today introduced the IS100e flatbed scanner as a printer option that offers color copying or scanning. Developed to support Ricoh's Aficio CL3000, Aficio CL5000 and Aficio AP2610 laser printers (via the parallel port), it allows users to copy or scan documents at speeds of up to 9 ppm and output them at their printer's rated speed. Documents can be scanned directly to either PDF, JPEG, and TIFF formats (600 dpi and 24-bit color). The $1,500 device offers a full QWERTY keyboard and can store up to 2,000 email addresses.

Apple presence strong at Siggraph

07/31, 2:50pm

Apple presence strong at Siggraph

Although Apple doesn't have a traditional booth at the Siggraph show this week, the Mac OS X platform "has made quite a splash in the 3D community" with a number of exciting announcements, reports Architosh. "With the release of the new Power Mac G5, we believe Mac OS X is the platform of the future," said Michel Besner, President of Kaydara. Richard Kerris, Apple Sr. Director of Worldwide Developer Relations, said developers are coming to realize that the Mac OS X platform on G5 hardware offers a superior environment for the next generation of their products.

KB: AFP file damage; RD status; ...

07/31, 2:00pm

KB: AFP file damage; RD status; ...

Apple's support knowledge base describes the following issues: files written, cached, or explicitly saved by a Mac OS X 10.2.5 client to an Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) server may become unusable under certain circumstances; a share point cannot auto-mount if you give it a custom AFP name; Remote Desktop may sometimes incorrectly report a client's status as unavailable when it is in fact available; how to custom install the BSD package after Mac OS X 10.2 has already been installed.

Lemke Software updates GraphicConverter 4.8

07/31, 1:50pm

Lemke Software updates GraphicConverter 4.8

Lemke Software has released GraphicConverter 4.8, an update to the popular graphic manipulation and conversion utility. Version 4.8 adds a new unskew effect, a function to swap channels, support for exporting raw images stacks, new Foto PDBs and Palm image stream import, and improved digital camera import, CANON EOS raw detection, Kodak DCS detection, DICOM compatibility improved, and other changes. The $30 shareware is available in several languages. [Classic, OSX]

OWC launches internal optical drive upgrades

07/31, 1:35pm

OWC launches internal optical drive upgrades

Other World Computing (OWC) today introduced Mercury Ti and Mercury Cube slot-loading internal SuperDrive and Combo drives available for both TiPB G4 (15-inch) and Power Mac G4 Cube, respectively. The self-installable drives are compatible with iDVD (SuperDrive only), iTunes and Disc Burner. The OWC SuperDrives (starting at $380) feature 16x4x24x CD-RW speeds and 1x/1x/8x DVD-RW speeds; while the OWC Combo drives ($200) feature 8x/8x/24x CD-RW speeds and 8x DVD read speeds. OWC offers a trade-in rebate of $20 or $85, respectively, for the return of the replaced (and functioning) Apple CD/DVD or Apple CD-R/RW+DVD.

D-Link intros Desktop Gigabit Switches

07/31, 1:25pm

D-Link intros Desktop Gigabit Switches

D-Link today announced a new series of desktop Gigabit switches, supporting 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet protocols. The new 5-port ($150) and 8-port ($200) unmanaged switches filter forward packets at full wire-speed for maximum throughput without sacrificing standard 10/100 connected devices. Both offer integrated 802.3x Flow Control (for full duplex) and integrated half-duplex backpressure mode to store excess data during congestion until bandwidth becomes available. They will ship in mid-August for $150 (5-port) and $200 (8-port). [links updated]

Movie industry to fight piracy

07/31, 12:30pm

Movie industry to fight piracy

While the recording industry was in the headlines last week with its subpoenas of people caught illegally file sharing, the film industry quietly began its own anti-piracy campaign. A series of public-service announcements from the Motion Picture Association will explain the "adverse effects of piracy on the many thousands whose livelihoods depend on the movie-going experience." Columnist David Zeiler suggests that Apple should launch an online movie purchasing service similar to its iTunes Music Store, in order to offer users a viable alternative to piracy.

Apps: Export Artwork, SheerVideo, BitVice...

07/31, 11:55am

Apps: Export Artwork, SheerVideo, BitVice...

Export Artwork enables users to remove iTunes artwork from their music's ID3 tags in order to reduce file size, but still view the art through iTunes. Currently, accompanying album artwork is stored inside audio files, which wastes space. The latest version fixes bugs and adds new settings. [Download - 142KB]
SheerVideo 1.1.1.7 is a lossless nondestructive video codec that saves both time and storage space in video production and archival, "yet always maintains absolutely perfect fidelity." SheerVideo is also fast, and can halve files sizes. It is priced at $150. [Download - demo form]
Fullscreen is a GUI (Graphic User Interface) for QuickTime that allows userst a movie in its original size stepless scaling of the playerwindow from 15% up to 100% of the screen resolution as well as management of multiple playlists. The ?10 shareware is available for Mac OS 9/X. [Classic, OSX]
West-Forest-Systems has released MP3-Info CMM 1.3. a freeware Finder audio info extension for Mac OS X. The new version displays even more information, such as the AAC bitrate, MP3-Tag version, and can handle special characters, such as umlauts, better. [Download - 143KB]
BitVice 1.3.1 is an update to the variable bitrate (VBR) encoder that produces MPEG-2 video (m2v) files compatible with DVD Studio Pro and other DVD authoring programs. Version 1.3.1 adds several new features including: multiprocessor support, encoding engine enhancements, batch processing, and improved vertical resolution. [Download - 922KB]
MacLoggerDX 3.1 is an update to the $80 Internet radio software for SWL programs, DX Net, and W1AW Bulletin. The latest version adds AppleScript execution to Scheduled Events, ADIF Export with eQSL.cc, new drivers, and bug fixes. [Download - 7.9MB]

Medea ships FireFly FireWire storage system

07/31, 10:55am

Medea ships FireFly FireWire storage system

Medea Corp has begun shipping FireFly: "[it] is the first FireWire storage solution to feature a docking station and removable disk modules that also operate as stand-alone FireWire drives. With FireFly, one disk module can be left secure in the docking station while the other module is used to create content while 'on-the-fly'. When the module is replaced in the docking station, content can be automatically synchronized to provide a backup copy of the user's valuable data." It can be either striped (RAID 0), mirrored (RAID 1), or formatted as independent drives. FireFly is available in 240GB, 400GB, and 500GB capacities for $700, $1000, and $1,300, respectively.

NetXposure launches Image Portal X for OS X

07/31, 8:00am

NetXposure launches Image Portal X for OS X

NetXposure today launched its Image Portal X for Mac OS X, a Web-based digital asset management application that provides a central repository for collecting, storing, managing, processing, and distributing image assets. Image Portal X gives users the ability to assign and manage metadata, such as photographer, copyright, date and associated keywords and also includes advanced image editing and manipulation, including dynamic generation of industry-standard image formats for print and the Web, such as PSD, TIFF and JPG.

Apple offers .Mac members Marble Blast game

07/31, 12:50am

Apple offers .Mac members Marble Blast game

Apple is offering .Mac members a free version of GarageGames' Marble Blast game title ($15 value): " Players use creative power boosters like SuperBounce and Gyrocopter to race through an elevated course that includes moving platforms, slippery oil slicks, and whirling fans. Three levels of play, each with its own rich cartoon landscape, make this a great game for players of all ages and skill levels." Apple's Games area recently posted a feature on the title.