News Archive for 03/10/17

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Forums: G5 noise, PBG4 screen spots, ...

10/17, 3:05pm

Forums: G5 noise, PBG4 screen spots, ...

Popular topics for discussion today on the MacNN forums include: speculation about the first revision of the Power Mac G5; the so-called "oscillating buzzing noise" produced by the new Power Mac G5; unusual "white spots" appearing on the displays of 15" PowerBook G4s; applications that don't work in the latest developer builds of Mac OS X 10.3; the upcoming release of a Mac OS X appearance theme called "BBX Omega."

Intuit to release QuickBooks Pro 6.0 soon

10/17, 2:50pm

Intuit to release QuickBooks Pro 6.0 soon

After talking to Mac QuickBooks customers all year -- including a survey of Mac users in February -- Intuit will introduce QuickBooks Pro 6.0 for Mac in November. The upgraded QuickBooks will give Mac users greater data sharing capability as well as increase overall efficiency. QuickBooks 5.0 -- the last major update to the suite -- was released in December 2002. QuickBooks 5.0 retails for $300.

Apps: iSeek, iOrganize, OnDeck, radmind ...

10/17, 2:30pm

Apps: iSeek, iOrganize, OnDeck, radmind ...

iSeek is a $15 program for Mac OS X that allows users to instantly search many Internet resources from within any program. It includes pre-configured search shortcuts for dozens of useful Internet resources. [Download - 3.2MB]
iOrganize 5.1.0 is a new version of the popular organization tool for Mac OS X. This new version adds several improvements to the Favorites drawer such as the ability to reorder favorite notes, and a new way to add new favorites by "drag&drop" from the note lists. [Download - 1.3MB]
OnDeck 1.3 will display album artwork for the currently playing iTunes track in a unobtrusive window. Version 1.3 brings a new window with resizing and floating, tested with iTunes 4.1. OnDeck is a free download. [Download - 145KB]
radmind 1.2.0 is a suite of Unix command-line tools and a server designed to remotely administer the file systems of multiple Unix machines. Version 1.2.0 implements many new features, including: pipelined lcreate; progress output option -v to fsdiff; and -R to radmind usage. Documentation has also been update with known issues. [Download - 145KB]
ScopeDriver is a planning, logging, and control interface for astronomical telescopes. It allows you to connect your computer to a telescope compatible with the Autostar, LX200 or Gemini command sets. Version 2.0 improves performance of virtually every aspect of the application. Registration is $30. [Download - Classic, OS X]
Fire 0.32.g is an update to the free Instant Messaging Client for Mac OS X, which supports all of the most popular instant messaging services (AIM, ICQ, IRC, Jabber, MSN, Yahoo!). Version 0.32.g fixes compatibility with MSN, which was cut off. [Download - 5.8MB]
Aspyr has released Alice 1.1, an update to the popular role-playing game for Mac. This update includes: support for texture compression; support for anisotropic filtering; increased texture quality; support for full-screen anti-aliasing; support for widescreen resolutions; HID for game-pads. [Download - 3.9MB]
Native Instruments has released a demo version of Reaktor Session. Reaktor Session includes a vast range of powerful synthesizers and resynthesizers, samplers and beat-loopers, groove and drum machines, surround and innovative effects, and "revolutionary creations never seen before." [Download - see form]

Ambrosia releases iSeek search utility

10/17, 12:40pm

Ambrosia releases iSeek search utility

Ambrosia Software has released iSeek 1.0, an Mac OS X application that "allows you to instantly search for anything you seek, no matter what program you are running. iSeek puts a familiar search field in your menu bar, needing just a click or keystroke to start your search!" Users can search for information on Google as well as news sites such as the BBC News, MacNN.com. The utility saves recent searches for convenient access and can be configured to search any Internet search site. It is $15 and runs on Mac OS X 10.1 or later.

Iceni offers Gemini Solo for PDF extraction

10/17, 12:20pm

Iceni offers Gemini Solo for PDF extraction

Iceni Technology has released Gemini Solo 1.7 for Mac OS X, a standalone version of its PDF text and image extraction application. It can export reflowed plain text, HTML, RTF and eBook formats from PDF, TIFF, PNG, EPS and JPEG images: "The advantage of being stand-alone is that you do not need licenses for additional software such as Adobe Acrobat." It also supports custom resolution rendering, support for double-byte characters and Unicode output, batch conversion, full layout retention, and other advanced features. It is $160, while upgrades from the plugin version are $60.

Diskology releases Disk Jockey drive utility

10/17, 12:15pm

Diskology releases Disk Jockey drive utility

Diskology has released the Disk Jockey, a new hard disk copy and diagnostic tool that allows users to "copy data between IDE hard disk drives at lightening fast speeds while maintaining all of the attributes of the original hard disk, including hidden folders, multiple partitions and operating system files. Other supported functions inlcude data mirroring functions, block level drive/data testing, volume mounting, and secure volume deletion (using either a one-pass or three-pass erase). The $300 utility works with FireWire and USB devices.

Pangea debuts anthology collection of games

10/17, 12:05pm

Pangea debuts anthology collection of games

Pangea today announced its first anthology collection: The Pangea Super Pack is a collection of all of Pangea Software’s OS X native games including Cro-Mag Rally, Otto Matic, Bugdom 2, Enigmo, and Billy Frontier: "If bought separately these games would total $115, but the Super Pack is retailing for only $50!" The Pangea Super Pack is scheduled to begin shipping this coming Monday, and pre-orders are now being taken on the Pangea Software web site. For a limited time UPS Ground shipping is free on all orders placed on the Pangea order page.

MicroMat delays TechTool Pro 4 (again)

10/17, 11:45am

MicroMat delays TechTool Pro 4 (again)

MicroMat has delayed TechTool Pro 4 yet again, according to its Website. The Mac OS X version of the drive utility is now expected to ship in November 2003. Earlier this month, the site had indicated an 'October 2003' ship date. TechTool Pro was introduced in January of this year at Macworld Expo SF and then delayed in August 2003 to "Late Summer." The drive utility suite offers predictive diagnostics, a new "eDrive" feature to create an invisible emergency volume, the ability to run its battery of tests simultaneously, and improved optimizations features to unfragment files.

Matrox RTMac beta not compatible with QT 6.4

10/17, 11:35am

Matrox RTMac beta not compatible with QT 6.4

Matrox let us know that the latest Matrox RTMac 4.0 beta is not compatible with the recently released QuickTime 6.4 (when used with Final Cut Pro 4.0, its OK with Final Cut Pro 3), noting that there is not yet an easy method of reverting back to an older version of QuickTime and recommending that users wait until a solution is available. Matrox confirmed that it is working on a solution with Apple.

Reader: Virtual PC incompatible with Norton

10/17, 11:30am

Reader: Virtual PC incompatible with Norton

A MacNN reader writes: "Norton SystemWorks 2004 for Windows is incompatible with VirtualPC 6.1 running WinXP or Win98. (It likely also affects VPC 6.1 running WinMe and Win2000, although I haven't tested with that.) This occurs because NSW 2004 (unlike NSW 2002 or 2003) runs a hardware check at the time of install, and VPC 6.1 fails that check. Microsoft has investigated the problem and confirmed this to me. Yesterday, I asked that they try to work around the problem, as Connectix did when TurboTax for Windows wasn't compatible with VPC 6.0--Microsoft has not yet responded to the request."

Apple posts Webcast of Special Music Event

10/17, 9:00am

Apple posts Webcast of Special Music Event

Apple has posted a QuickTime 6 MPEG-4 stream of the Oct. 16 Special Music event at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, where Apple introduced iTunes for Windows and made other announcements.

SLG offers Jazz music catalog through iTMS

10/17, 8:00am

SLG offers Jazz music catalog through iTMS

The Savoy Label Group (SLG) has announced it has partnered with Apple to offer its music catalog through Apple's iTunes Music Store (iTMS): "Home to a who's who of jazz such as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstine, John Coltrane, Jimmy Scott and many others, as well as current luminaries such as Hubert Laws, James Moody, Lou Rawls and Andy Bey, SLG now offers over 3000 classic and contemporary tracks from the extensive catalog. SLG's new repertoire includes adult contemporary stars such as Joan Armatrading as well as cutting edge projects.

Apple: iPods not iTMS is central to profits

10/17, 2:25am

Apple: iPods not iTMS is central to profits

Apple said it doesn't have any illusions that it can make great profits from selling songs over the Internet: "Instead, Apple is counting on the store as a key part of an overall music business for the company that can produce substantial profits--mainly through sales of its iPod digital music player. 'The iPod makes money. The iTunes Music Store doesn't,' Apple Senior VP Phil Schiller told CNET News.com...Schiller said the music store is close to profitability but is still losing money. Apple doesn't see the business as having much long-term profit potential either."

Verbatim debuts DigitalMovie DVD media

10/17, 1:50am

Verbatim debuts DigitalMovie DVD media

Verbatim announced today a new family of DigitalMovie 1x-4x speed DVD Recordable media with the unique look of a movie reel. Verbatim DigitalMovie discs are available in 3-packs with a choice of 4.7GB DVD-R or DVD+R media packaged in clear DVD Super Jewel Box cases: "In addition to giving personal videos the realistic look of a classic Hollywood movie reel, the discs are ideal for backing up DVD video titles and transferring video tapes to optical media that won't degrade over time."

Keynote Theme Park adds animation to Global

10/17, 1:20am

Keynote Theme Park adds animation to Global

Keynote Theme Park has updated its theme for Keynote, Global with new animation in the background: All charts and tables have been sized for each photo cutout and have a dark translucent fill that lets the background show through. In addition, charts have been customized for the blue-gray complimentary background. Extras include a stand alone animated globe, 6 views of still globes, a Robinson projection map, design elements, one complimentary background and 12 photo cutouts. It includes three theme variations. It is a free upgrade to the $13 theme (and is also available for $30 as part of a 3-theme set).

Apple announces two retail store openings

10/17, 1:15am

Apple announces two retail store openings

Apple quietly announced the grand opening of its Apple Store UTC (San Diego, CA) and Apple Store Legacy Village (Lyndhurst, OH) on October 24th, as anticipated earlier this week. Apple will also be holding its special "Night of Panther" events at retail stores and some university locations across the US to celebrate the introduction of its next generation operating system, Mac OS X 10.3 Panther.