News Archive for 03/08/27

Choose an article from the archive listing on this page or refine your selection using the controls in the gray box below.

DEVONagent beta, DEVONthink 1.7.1 released

08/27, 11:50pm

DEVONagent beta, DEVONthink 1.7.1 released

DEVONtechnologies today released a beta of its Internet search agent DEVONagent as well as posted DEVONthink 1.7.1. DEVONagent 1.0b1 ships with a total of 15 plug-ins for querying a great variety of search engines and databases and scanning the Usenet. New "crawler sets" allow users to scan custom lists of websites automatically. DEVONthink 1.7.1 ($35) adds tight integration with DEVONagent, features an automatic update check function and offers improved database optimisation.

Mozilla releases latest beta of browser

08/27, 11:40pm

Mozilla releases latest beta of browser

Mozilla.org has released Mozilla 1.5b for Mac OS X, an update to the open-source browser project with a spell checker for MailNews and Composer, improved unstyled XML display, and improved performance, stability, standards support and web compatibility as well as other changes. [15MB]

Apple contacts design firms for guidance

08/27, 11:20pm

Apple contacts design firms for guidance

A posting on Stopdesign website clears up some speculation about an Apple.com redesign: "Happy Cog Studios and Stopdesign may begin collaborating immediately on a new project for Apple Computer. We hear talks have been going on between involved parties for months. Additional details of the rumor will remain under lock and key for now. But you’re smart. Put the two of us together. You can probably imagine what the project might involve [link to Apple.com]... this does not imply a visual redesign is in the works. Happy Cog and Stopdesign will be consulting with the in-house team, providing guidance and a bit of a jump start as they explore the waters of web standards and forward-thinking design.:

Apps: Weather-Calendar, Address Book, ...

08/27, 5:45pm

Apps: Weather-Calendar, Address Book, ...

QuickToolKit announced today that QuickToolKit Fast&Easy and Professional editions will be demonstrated at the FileMaker Developer Conference in Phoenix Arizona, together with a new series of Skins available to customize any FileMaker solution.
Project24 has released an update to its popular Weather-Calendar software for the Mac. It offers up-to-date local weather information via Apple's iCal. The latest version offers improved usability and reliability.
Apimac has released Address Book 5.4, the latest release of its telephone and address application, fully integrated with Internet and Mac OS X. New in this version is an Event alarm and a Recurrences window for Birthday and Anniversary days, which can be personalized at Preferences. Registration is $25. [Download - Classic, OS X]
Badia FixUnknown XT is a patch for QuarkXPress 6.0 that solves the problem of "Unknown" file names when printing. PostScript files and documents sent to RIPs will now have the correct layout name. Users are advised to only install the patch if they are experiencing this problem. [Download - form]
The imaginatively-titled “Freecell” is a Mac OS X version of the classic solitaire game. Freecell is a solitaire card game "in which almost any deal can be won," if the player has enough skill. The card table consists of four free cells (top left), four stacks (top right), and eight columns (bottom). The latest version offers localization support, and improved gameplay. [Download - 184KB]
GrantSlam is the "original and most-widely" used software for preparing NIH grant applications. It automates the application process for all PHS-398 (including SBIR Phase 1 and Phase 2) and PHS-2590 forms. It was originally designed by a medical researcher, and will help users prepare NIH/PHS grant applications as easily and accurately as possible. Pricing starts at $415.

Macromedia to release Freehand MX update

08/27, 5:05pm

Macromedia to release Freehand MX update

Following this week's introduction of the Macromedia MX 2004 product line, a MacNN source notes that a new version of FreeHand MX will be included with Studio MX 2004 box and that the same upgrade will be available for free via download from the Macromedia website in the "near future."

"The Big 4 Graphics Bundle" now available

08/27, 4:00pm

"The Big 4 Graphics Bundle" now available

Andromeda Software, Alien Skin, nik multimedia and Ingram-Publishing Join Together -- three top Photoshop plug-in makers and one of the largest stock imagery companies -- have partnered together to create a unique bundle called "The Big 4 Graphics Bundle." The bundle includes seven major professional Photoshop plug-in programs and over 200 royalty-free images. The bundle is priced at $200 -- a purported $635 savings.

Big Nerd Ranch revises Cocoa training class

08/27, 3:50pm

Big Nerd Ranch revises Cocoa training class

The Big Nerd Ranch will launch its revised Cocoa training class September 22-26, which has been modified to incorporate new features being added to the Panther release of the Mac OS X operating system and developer tools. Students will receive the first draft of the second edition of Aaron Hillegass's book, Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X. The Xcode IDE and the new bindings mechanism will be covered in the revised course. Class price of $3500 includes lodging, all meals, original instruction materials, 24-hour lab access, and transportation to and from the Atlanta airport.

Seapine updates TestTrack, Surround SCM

08/27, 3:30pm

Seapine updates TestTrack, Surround SCM

Seapine today announced the availability of TestTrack Pro 6.0. Version 6.0 of the issue management tool includes numerous new features such as fully customizable workflows, multiple user assignments, enhanced email notifications, increased custom field support, and an improved licensing model. Pricing starts at $300. Seapine also released Surround SCM 2.0, the latest version of the cross-platform software change management (SCM) tool, includes integration with Borland JBuilder and Macromedia Dreamweaver MX, enhanced expandability and process control, email notification, and other security and usability improvements. Pricing begins at $600.

Ars Technica compares Mac browsers

08/27, 3:00pm

Ars Technica compares Mac browsers

Ars Technica has published a comparison of the nine most popular Web browsers for Mac OS X. Camino, Firebird, iCab, Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Netscape, OmniWeb, Opera, and Safari are compared for compatibility, speed, quality, and features.

Casio debuts 3 new EXILIM digital cameras

08/27, 2:10pm

Casio debuts 3 new EXILIM digital cameras

Casio today announced the EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z4U, the latest addition to the EXILIM Series of card-size LCD digital cameras. The new EX-Z4U features a CCD with 4 million effective pixels and a 3X zoom lens. The EX-Z4U will be available in October 2003 for $400. Casio also announced two new additions to the EXILIM Series of compact card-size digital cameras with the new EX-S20U ($280) and EX-M20U ($330) models. Both 2 megapixel cameras are more compact than previous models, without any sacrifice to functionality. They will be available in October 2003.

Sony debuts "world's smallest" HandyCam

08/27, 1:20pm

Sony debuts "world's smallest" HandyCam

Sony today launched its new single-CCD 3.3 megapixel MiniDV Handycam, DCR-PC330, as well as what it calls the world's smallest and lightest tape-based camcorder, the DCR-IP1. Both feature a 10x optical zoom, Carl Zeiss optics, Super SteadyShot picture stabilization, and hybrid LCD touch screens with improved menu controls.

IOGear offers new KVM solutions

08/27, 1:00pm

IOGear offers new KVM solutions

IOGear has launched new USB and PS/2 KVM Console Extenders that "make remote access computing easier and more cost-effective." IOGear's KVM Extenders allow network managers to move KVM consoles away from the local computer in noisy server rooms to a "more comfortable working environment." Users can access computers remotely by just plugging in the extenders, avoiding lengthy software installation. Pricing starts at $250.

Apps: CarbonMaker, ProjectForum, TennisAce ..

08/27, 12:35pm

Apps: CarbonMaker, ProjectForum, TennisAce ..

MGU Software today released CarbonMaker 1.0b1, which allows users to build Mac OS X applications easily, eliminating the use of any programming language. The latest version includes: multimedia support, faster compilations, a new interface, and English and French support. [site currently unavailable]
ProjectForum 2.5 and CourseForum 2.5 add SSL support and other enhancements to the web-based applications for collaboration. ProjectForum ($200) is designed for increased interaction, coordination and communication for both online and face-to-face workgroup projects, business teams and project intranets, while CoureForum ($100) brings the same benefits to online or face-to-face courses and student groups. Free versions of both are available as well.
TennisAce 2.0 ($25) lets users track their performance against any number of players. View and print a variety of statistics, track court fees and prize money, and print fun awards for your partners. Version 2.0 features support for doubles matches and more detailed statistics. [Download - options]
Lemke Software's GraphicConverter 4.8.1 adds a crop feature for digital photoservice to the contextmenu in the browser, remembers the last print settings, includes zoom previews up to 5000%, has a new watermark feature, and includes other fixes. It is a free update to the $30 graphic utility. [Download - Classic, OSX]
PublicSpace has released version 3.2 of its "A Better Finder Creators & Types" ($10) Finder enhancement, which allows users to quickly change file-to-application associations by setting the creator & type attributes of files. The new version allows the tool be started from the Finder by pressing the Command-Control-C hot key combination. [Download - 1.2MB]
BeLight's Business Card Composer 1.1 ($40) is a Mac OS X application for creation and printing self-made business cards. It adds enriched input of hieroglyphical text for users from Japan, China etc., both raster or vector output options. and new paper layouts from Japanese and European paper manufacturers. [6.1MB]
Speed Download 2.04 updates the company's download manager with new Chinese and Swedish localized versions, new scroll wheel functionality and .PDB support as well as increases maximum number of simultaneous downloads. The $20 utility runs on Mac OS X. [1.3MB]

17" PB/Kensington anti-theft compatibility

08/27, 11:35am

17" PB/Kensington anti-theft compatibility

MacNN reader "Cory" let us know about an incompatibility between Kensington's laptop anti-theft device and the 17" PowerBook G4: "The AC power port is too close to the security port that the Kensington locks into." As a result, 17" PowerBooks can only be locked to the device when running on battery. Update: MacNN reader Brad Stone confirms that the standard Kensington lock system does not work with the 17" PowerBook G4. However, "Alex" let us know that the "Slim" Kensington Microsaver laptop lock kit will work with the model.

FWB discontinues RealPC emulation product

08/27, 9:20am

FWB discontinues RealPC emulation product

FWB, under new management as of July 2003, says it has discontinued RealPC, its PC emulation product, noting that claims of its pending release by previous management were bogus: "The previous management had made claims in press interviews and on the company website regarding the status and upcoming release of RealPC OSX claiming it was in late beta and about to be released. After more thorough investigation and interviews with the previous staff, we have found that the development had not formally been started, and it appears not a single line of code has been written."

OrangeLink FireWire 800 PC card for notebooks

08/27, 3:10am

OrangeLink FireWire 800 PC card for notebooks

Orange Micro today announced the OrangeLink FireWire 800 PC card, which allows legacy notebooks with a Type II CardBus slot to connect to newer FireWire 800 peripherals. It offers plug and play convenience, backward compatibility with the previous FireWire 400/1394a standard, daisy-chain capability, and up to 45 watts of bus power that can be provided through the connection (with an optional $15 external AC power supply). It is equipped with two 9-pin FireWire 800/1394b ports. It is expected to ship on September 30th for $90 and includes BTV Pro software.

ThemePark 1.1 offers Mac OS X customization

08/27, 3:00am

ThemePark 1.1 offers Mac OS X customization

Geekspiff has released ThemePark 1.1, which allows users to create or modify the way Mac OS X looks, as well as to change the appearance of individual applications: "Just draw titlebars, buttons, and other widgets in the graphics editor of your choice, and paste them into ThemePark to create a new theme or modify an existing one." Version 1.1 of the system utility adds the ability to edit resource files that store their data in their resource fork, allowing many Carbon programs to be tweaked. The theme designer, creator, and editor is $20.

Direcway starts beta program for Mac users

08/27, 2:55am

Direcway starts beta program for Mac users

A MacNN reader notes that Direcway has started a special beta program for a Mac version of its satellite internet service: "I went there tonight to check my account info and noticed they are taking applications to beta test a Mac version of Direcway. Previously, this required an expensive Hughes router or the use of a PC to act as a gateway in order for Macs to use the connection."

Sendstation to ship PocketDock on Sept 12

08/27, 2:55am

Sendstation to ship PocketDock on Sept 12

Sendstation Systems today announced that its PocketDock will start shipping next month. The PocketDock, designed for use with Apple's iPod, allows a standard 6-pin FireWire cable to connect to the iPod's proprietary docking port. It will be available beginning September 12 for $19 (SRP) directly from SendStation Systems and soon after, from authorized dealers worldwide. Customers who pre-order their PocketDock before Sept. 12 will receive a $2 discount.

ISI ResearchSoft ships Endnote 7 for Mac OS X

08/27, 2:35am

ISI ResearchSoft ships Endnote 7 for Mac OS X

EndNote 7, now shipping, is an update to its $240 bibliographic software for researchers and students. It delivers Mac OS X compatibility, subject bibliographies, flexible image handling with Microsoft Word, and connectivity to explore and mobilize reference collections, including support for StarOffice, OpenOffice, AppleWorks, FrameMaker and other documents using Rich Text Format (RTF). Other features include XML export, use of references in data visualization tools, and connecting to an institution's online resources with OpenURL links. EndNote 7 has over 1,500 content files including output styles, templates, import filters and connection files.