News Archive for 03/10/27

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Sophisticated Circuits updates server utils

10/27, 8:25pm

Sophisticated Circuits updates server utils

Sophisticated Circuits has updated PowerKey 4.2 for its power management device adds support for distinctive ringing, allowing users to set PowerKey to answer only when the phone rings the desired pattern. PowerKey Admin also features a new "Cycle" action for switching outlets and supports the ability to launch scripts with a phone call (using specific tone sequences). In addition, its automated crash recovery solution, Kick-off! 1.6 ($180), now responds to a new type of crash with a "low-level" software restart option (before hardware cycling the machine) and also improves logging to be more compatible with "syslog" and writes a separate log. Both are free updates for registered users and bring Panther compatibility. PowerKey SOHO is $200, while PowerKey Admin is $300.

Apps: Film Effects, Intaglio, Dave, MultiMode

10/27, 8:20pm

Apps: Film Effects, Intaglio, Dave, MultiMode

Nattress has released Film Effects, a new set of plugin filters for Apple's Final Cut Pro video editing software. Film Effects is a 24p Film Effect for Final Cut Pro. Film Effects "does everything you need" to make a video look like film - whether NTSC or PAL. It costs $100. [Download - 26KB]
Intaglio 1.6, an update to the Quartz drawing application, is now available. This version improves compatibility with Mac OS X 10.3 and adds a few new features and bug fixes. The following features were added specifically for Mac OS X 10.3: group composite mode, PDF opacity control, and EPS-to-PDF conversion. [Download - 2.0MB]
Hidden Field Software has made available Bible Reader Free 0.9.4, a new prerelease version of its free Bible viewing application for Mac OS X. Changes in this version include: improved search results; Strongs now show the last verse in every chapter; copying from notes is now possible; and searches are faster. [Download - 6.0MB]
Thursby Software has released Dave 4.1p3, an update to the cross-platform printer- and file-sharing solution that adds support for Mac OS 10.3 "Panther." Dave costs $150; the update is free. [Download - 6.0MB]
Apple has released a Final Cut Pro QuickTime Render Plug-in for Mac OS X that addresses a compatibility issue between Final Cut Pro 4 and QuickTime 6.4 that occurs when rendering non-DV clips in DV sequences. It is "strongly recommended for all Final Cut Pro 4 users." [Download - 243KB]
MultiMode 4.2.0 ($90) is an update to the non-voice radio communication software that adds a waterfall display for PSK31 mode, making it easy to tune in PSK31 stations. MultiMode is an application that decodes and transmits several different modes of non-voice shortwave and ham radio. [Download - 1.1MB]
WallStreetMenu 1.1.2 is a customizable Mac OS X menu item which enables users to keep track of Stocks, Mutual Funds and Indices (via Yahoo! Finance). It features a built-in Stock Calculator to quickly calculate profit/loss. Registratation ($8) lifts the 3-stock limit. [Download - 155KB]
CodeTek's SafeFile 2.0 brings Panther compatibility to the $25 “virtual safe” software. SafeFile 2.0 allows users to create virtual safes to store files, documents and data. The material in encrypted when placed in the Safes and decrypted when removed. Version 2.0 allows each user to create multiple, separate virtual safes. [Download - 1.6MB]
FileMaker has updated FileMaker Web Companion 6.0v2, a free update to its Web component for FileMaker Pro users. It fixes a problem that caused Web Companion to become unstable or quit when sharing databases under Mac OS X 10.2. [Download - 767KB]

AU Apple resellers concerned over NCR deal

10/27, 4:55pm

AU Apple resellers concerned over NCR deal

Australian Apple resellers are "up in arms" over Apple's decision to appoint NCR as a national services provider, claiming they will lose business as a result. In a letter sent to Apple resellers, Apple Computer Australia’s channel manager Kevin McElduff, said the vendor would “allocate a substantial portion of our professional services on-site warranty business to NCR”. The move would affect mainly regional resellers that are providing services for Education department (DET) contracts in Victoria, NSW, QLD and WA. Joe Knagge, the proprietor of Dubbo-based Apple authorised service provider KNet Technology, claimed 80 percent of his Apple-related sales revenue comes from warranty contracts with DET.

Apple's "Programming for Panther" promo

10/27, 4:15pm

Apple's "Programming for Panther" promo

The Apple Developer Connection has created a special "Programming for Panther" offer, providing everything needed to accelerate development: software, hardware, training, and support. Included is Mac OS X Panther, Xcode Tools (with one year of updates and pre-release versions), one development hardware discount (up to 20%), six ADC TV Coupons ($150 value), two code-level technical support incidents ($390 value), compatibility lab access, ADC business and development support, and all the other benefits of ADC Select membership. Until November 21st this complete offer is available for the regular price of a Select membership ($500).

Apps: Firebird, inkBook, DateTree...

10/27, 12:10pm

Apps: Firebird, inkBook, DateTree...

Mage Software has released inkBook 0.1a3, its note-taking application: "Using a tablet and Apple's Ink technology, you write your notes on the inkBook. Your notes remain as handwritten ink, yet you can search all of your notes as if they were typed text! Copy and paste your notes as text to word processors and export your whole inkBook to a text file." [281KB]
Xupport 2.0b1 provides a clean GUI to configure many Mac OS X 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. This version adds several new interfaces and is Panther compatible. [426KB]
Mozilla Firebird 0.71 is a recommended upgrade that fixes several usability issues and significantly improves performance in the small, open-source browser project: "Starting with version 0.8, Mozilla Firebird will use Kevin Gerich's Pinstripe as the default theme on OS X. This theme is also available for 0.7.1." [8.9MB]
Stone Design has released updated versions of Stone Studio apps specifically to take advantage of new features in Panther, including Create for illustration, page layout and web authoring application and PStill, the complete distillery which converts PS to PDF, combines files, etc. Updated apps include TimeEqualsMoney, PhotoToWeb, and the Stone Studio Suite ($300).
Yenco.com has released updates for Panther: Archive 5.1.3, its $20 disk catalog utility; iCalendar 2.07, its $20 client-side tool for quickly creating custom calendar websites; and Finance 5.02, its checking, savings, and credit card account management application. [AR, FN, IE]
DateTree 1.0 will copy files into a set of folders named by dat: "Although the program was written with images in mind, it will handle any file. Selective copying is possible, and several date-based organizations are offered." The $7 shareware runs on Mac OS X. [442KB]

Easy Encryption provides FileMaker security

10/27, 11:20am

Easy Encryption provides FileMaker security

Brian Dunning has released a new set of FileMaker Pro templates: Easy Encryption provides basic encryption and decryption of data, which "can be used to encode sensitive information, to generate license keys for commercial solutions, or any other purpose. Easy Encryption provides a simple, stripped-down database that shows the bare bones of encryption and decrpytion, and it's fully documented. More significantly, it also includes a fully functional set of templates for tracking customers, assigning encrypted license keys that embed your data, and then decrypting them on the customer's end." It can be downloaded and used for free, while both unlocked ($50) and developer ($100) versions are available.

WP: iTunes has flaws, but is best application

10/27, 11:15am

WP: iTunes has flaws, but is best application

The Washington Post's recent review of online music services (iTunes, MusicMatch, Naptster) concludes: "Last, but most important, Apple simply provides a better music program, whose sole (but not surprising) shortfall is its lack of Windows Media compatibility. In iTunes, Apple has accomplished what has eluded the entire PC market -- it's shipped a free, elegant, easy-to-use program that copies CDs in either AAC or MP3 format, offers numerous, thoughtful ways to organize a music library, lets you buy music conveniently, plays back Web radio and burns CDs and even DVDs -- and does it all without turning your desktop into a billboard for other products and services."

NoteWorthy Virtual Notecards for Mac OS X

10/27, 10:55am

NoteWorthy Virtual Notecards for Mac OS X

IntelliGents today announced today a Mac OS X version of its product, NoteWorthy Virtual Notecards 2.0, a cross-platform database for notes, quotes and bibliographic information, based on the metaphor of "virtual notecards." It allows you to store millions of fully-formatted notes and quotes--each up to hundreds of pages in length, along with keywords and links to bibliographic information with import functions from EndNote and ProCite. It is $100 for a commercial license and $60 for education users. A special pre-order price of $40 applies until November 1, when the product is expected to be released. [site not responding]

Apps: Amadeus II, Wallet, sMailing...

10/27, 10:40am

Apps: Amadeus II, Wallet, sMailing...

Safari Enhancer 2.0.7b1 is now Panther compatible, includes an updated French localizationm, offers better error checking to automatically repair problems with Safari when applying changes, and other bug fixes. The free utility enables may hidden features of Apple's Web browser and has other functions. [897KB]
appMac has released sMailing 5, an email for sending custom text/HTML emails to customers. It has been rewritten for Mac OS X, can manage thousands of emails, offers HTML message preview, includes address import support, has a built-in SQL engine, and other features. Standard ($50) and Pro ($100) versions are available. [4.6MB]
File Synchronization 1.2.3 updates the $10 shareware with Panther compatibility and a new Danish localization. It offers a preview mode, automatic volume mounting, automatic synchronization, repeating or scheduled events, and other advanced features. A 30-day uncrippled demo is available. [2.2MB]
Easy Barcode Creator 1.6, a new update to the $130 vector barcode generation product for Mac OS 9/X, adds ISBN EasyComplete, which automatically calculates the appropriate check digit for ISBNs entered into the Bookland EAN-13 barcode editor. It also has improved support for Mac OS X 10.3 "Panther"; supports Adobe Photoshop CS, Illustrator CS on Mac OS X; and has an improved TIFF exporter. [1.1MB]
PodMail 1.1 allows users to synchronize their IMAP mailboxes with their iPod for portable offline viewing. It now works with Panther (requires Mac OS 10.2 and iPod 2.0 or later). [247KB]
Waterfall Software's Wallet 1.2 is an update to its $15 secure utility to store passwords, serial numbers, contacts, and more. Version 1.2 adds better compatibility with Mac OS X 10.3 "Panther" and also brings more security options, an advanced password generator, updated graphical user interface, performance enhancements (up to 2x faster), and other bug fixes. [1.9MB]
Amadeus II 3.7 is a high-quality shareware ($25) sound editor with support of the Mp3 and Ogg Vorbis codecs, support of VST Audio plugins, sound repairing functions, and analyzing functions. It has an improved interface for a better look on Panther, presets for VST plugins, RIAA curve compensation, better CoreAudio support, and detection of silences for splitting long recordings. [2.1MB]

Adobe ships Adobe Creative Suite

10/27, 10:00am

Adobe ships Adobe Creative Suite

Adobe today began shipping Adobe Creative Suite, which combines new full-version upgrades of the company's creative professional software: Adobe Photoshop CS, Adobe Illustrator CS, Adobe InDesign CS, and Adobe GoLive CS. It also incorporates Acrobat 6.0 Professional, and introduces the innovative Version Cue file version manager. Adobe said it would announce shipment of new full-version upgrades of its individual creative applications later this week (although at least one MacNN reader has received shipment notification of his Photoshop CS upgrade.) Upgrades to Adobe Creative Suite start at $550.

iTools 7.2 adds Panther support, new features

10/27, 7:45am

iTools 7.2 adds Panther support, new features

Tenon today released iTools 7.2, an update to its set of point-and-click tools to set up Apache and other server resources under Mac OS X. It offers the ability to switch between Apache 2 and Apache 1.3; multi-level administration to enable ISPs to let webmasters manage their own domains, a built-in high-performance web search engine; GUI management for MySQL; and built-in logging analysis for both web and mail. Pricing starts at $350.

Carpe Stellarem merges, debuts products

10/27, 7:40am

Carpe Stellarem merges, debuts products

Carpe Stellarem has merged with Conundrum Software and will be rereleasing Conundrum's products under its new company name, including: Duality 4.02, which brings full Panther support to its system Theme Changer; Liberty for Mac OS X, a Game Boy emulation program for Palm OS with new tools to transfer ROM's to your Palm using Mac OS X; StellarDNS (coming soon), an inexpensive, comprehensive GUI based DNS configuration tool; StellarRADIUS Lite (coming soon) to control access to AirPort base stations; and Carpe Daemon (coming soon) to remotely administer StellarDNS and StellarRADIUS Lite.

Lexar JumpDrive Music features MP3 functions

10/27, 7:35am

Lexar JumpDrive Music features MP3 functions

Lexar Media today introduced JumpDrive Music, a portable USB flash storage device which enables people to easily store, carry and transfer data files, while also serving as a full-featured MP3 player. It will be available in 128MB ($90) and 256MB ($160) capacities and includes a host of MP3 player features, including an easy-to-use single navigation button for accessing all player controls, an equalizer and an easy to read backlit LCD display. JumpDrive supports MP3 and WMA. It will ship in November 2003 with a single AAA battery, earbud headphones, a lanyard and a USB cable.

Forums: Mac OS X 10.3 debut: reaction, issues

10/27, 12:30am

Forums: Mac OS X 10.3 debut: reaction, issues

Members of the MacNN forums this weekend discussed a number of topics realated to the release of Mac OS X 10.3 "Panther:" the reasons behind Panther's significant boost in responsiveness; the iSub now mutes when the "mute" key is pressed on the keyboard; problems with iChat and Safari under Panther (after updating); general impressions of Panther from users who have installed it; applications that do not currently work with Mac OS X 10.3 (some reports apply only to prerelease builds of Panther).