News Archive for 04/04/12

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

Mediafour XPlay 2 for iPods has Audible, AAC support

04/12, 5:30pm

Mediafour XPlay 2 ships

Mediafour today released XPlay 2, a new version of its popular Windows software for iPod users. Version 2 offers new features, including compatibility with Audible files, AAC files, and automatic WMA-to-MP3 conversion. Mediafour also says that XPlay 2 is also much faster than the original XPlay, has improved support for international characters, displays album art, supports play counts, and has a "greatly-enhanced" interface under Windows XP. XPlayoffers Windows connectivity for iPods, including Windows integration for Mac-formatted iPods and compatibility with older versions of Windows, including Windows Me and Windows 98SE. Upgrades to the $30 application are $15.

Iomega ships Iomega REV 35GB removeable drive

04/12, 1:15pm

Iomega REV 35GB drive

Iomega today began shipping its new Iomega REV 35GB/90GB drive, a removable storage alternative to tape and other backup and archiving solutions. Iomega says that the REV disks transfer data up to eight times faster than tape, are smaller than a deck of playing cards (10 x 77 x 75 mm), can store up to 90GB of compressed data, and can be rewritten more than a million times (estimated) and offer a shelf life of more than 30 years. The REV drives offer a maximum sustained transfer rate of 25 MB/sec, and use drag and drop random access technology to copy and restore individual files. Both the external USB 2.0 ($400) and internal ATAPI versions ($380) are available.

Apps: ListSaver, TojanDefuser, In-Out Board, Two Due

04/12, 1:05pm

ListSaver, TojanDefuser

ListSaver 2.0 adds the ability to rebuild manually updated iPods from scratch, including automatically copying the music files from the local library to the iPod. This allows a user to perform a software restore on a manual iPod, and then return it to its previous state, as well as creating multiple iPods with the same set of music. [1.2MB]
Basecamp, a web-based project management tool with RSS and iCal integration, has added file uploading and sharing to its feature set. The hosted service offers project status messages, milestones, to-do lists, project overviews, etc. Pricing starts at $20 per month.
Studiometry 1.2 ($55) helps organize Client data, Project data, Project files, To Do's, Debts, Invoices, Reports, Notes, and more. Version 1.2 adds Windows compatibility, allowing users to copy their data file to a Windows computer and access it exactly as they would on the Mac. This update also adds customizable project specs, a completely new Alerts window, multi-threading, etc. [2.6MB]
OpenOSX TojanDefuser is an application to disarm variations of the concept Trojan Horse "MP3Virus.Gen" while leaving the data intact. The drag and drop open source Cocoa application "TrojanDefuser" is available as a free download. [1.2MB]
Conoa 3D 1.8 ($300) and Conoa EasyShapes 1.4 ($110) both feature improved rendering speed and reduced memory usage. Additionally, Conoa EasyShapes adds separate controls for manipulating the opacity of the front and rear of the objects and the ability to invert texture maps horizontally. Both work as plug-ins within Adobe After Effects 4.1, Final Cut Pro (v3.0 or later), Discreet Combustion 3, and Avid systems. [form]
In-Out Board is a new cross-platform employee status tracking tool that allows you to automate your company's In/Out board or other employee tracking systems into a flexible electronic status board. Users can easily set their status as well as leave notes (i.e.how they can be reached, when they'll be back). It features custom categories as well as can connect remote offices over the internet. Pricing starts at $9 per user. [Classic, OSX]
Two Due 1.5 ($10) updates the Java-based to-do list manager with a new find command, the ability to mass change from one category, improved web publishing (with a new playback of scripts recorded using TDF Czar), pending status display, import of data from tab-delimited files or HTML bookmark files, and web page validation. [882KB]

BBC: Real caught between Microsoft and Apple?

04/12, 12:45pm

Real vs. MS vs. Apple

BBC News looks at Real Networks and the global roll-out of its latest audio and video player, RealPlayer 10: "for Real Networks the launch comes at a crucial time, caught as it is between the Microsoft rock and the Apple hard place, both of which are pushing hard into the company's market place. Microsoft media player keeps gaining market share, while Apple in recent months has managed to grab headlines with its iTunes service. However, speaking to BBC News Online, Real Networks chief executive Rob Glaser is bullish: 'If having 350m users worldwide is between a rock and a hard place, then it's a very nice situation to be in.'"

IDG: Macworld Boston to feature Quark, Harman, Xerox

04/12, 12:40pm

Macworld Boston Exhibitors

IDG World Expo today offered a "first look" at some of the industry-leading companies that will be exhibiting at the upcoming Macworld Conference & Expo in Boston. IDG says that Quark, Harman Multimedia and Xerox as well as a dozen other companies have signed up to participate a the Expo, which takes place July 12-15, 2004 at the new Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC). Macworld Boston will also offer a educational program, networking opportunities and hands-on product demonstrations. Other exhibitors include Alias, Belkin, Brenthaven, Disc Makers, DriveSavers, Harmony Remote, IOGEAR, Parliant, Prosoft Engineering, Roku, Sassasfras, Software MacKiev, and Sonnet Technologies.

Creo releases Pandora 2.6 for Mac OS X

04/12, 12:35pm

Pandora 2.6 for Mac OS X

Creo today released Pandora 2.6, a new version of its step-and-repeat tool for folding carton and label manufacturers. Version 2.6 of Pandora, built for Mac OS X, includes performance enhancers-up to 90 percent over Pandora 2.5 running on Mac OS 9. Pandora uses open file standards such as PDF and JDF to enable seamless integration with many workflow systems. This easy-to-use software features innovative technologies such as SmartMarks and ShopMap˙ software, and dramatically reduces the time it takes to create step-and-repeat layouts.

OWC reduces prices on Mercury Extreme G4 upgrades

04/12, 12:30pm

G4 upgrade prices reduced

Other World Computing today has reduced prices by as much as 10 percent on its Mercury Extreme line of G4 processor upgrades. ZThe Mercury Extreme G4 line features Tantalum-dipped components and an ultra-quiet custom cooling system with a pre-attached heat-sink and fan in "order to maximize the reliability and longevity of the upgrade," according to the company. The company cut prices by $30 on its 867MHz-933MHz (now $250), 867MHz-1.0GHz (now $270), G4/1.0-1.1GHz (now $300), and G4/1.25-1.4GHz ($420). The G4/1.25-1.33GHz is now $390 ($10 drop) and the G4/1.4-1.467GHz is $480 ($20 drop).

Keyspan USB Server starts shipping

04/12, 10:05am

Keyspan ships USB Server

Keyspan has started shipping its USB Server, which connects USB devices to a Mac or PC via wired or wireless Ethernet-based LAN. The USB server functions similarly to a print server and features four USB ports and a 10/100 Ethernet port for connecting to networks. The Keyspan USB Server sells for $130.

GUI Galaxy relaunches today

04/12, 10:00am

GUI Galaxy returns

GUI Galaxy, a Web site "by and for graphic designers," has relaunched today with a new site design, daily news posts, an RSS newsfeed, OS X icons an software, staff-designed apparel, and user-driven newsletter management.

QuickerTek brings Super Cantenna to PBG4 users

04/12, 9:00am

Super Cantenna for PBG4

QuickerTek has started offering an AirPort-specific version of the Super Cantenna, a high-performance directional antenna that can double or triple PowerBook G4 AirPort and AirPort Extreme signals. Inspired by the original Pringles can antenna boosters, the 12dbi Super Cantenna features a 12-inch main tube antenna body that can be equipped with an optional mini tripod. Configurations sell for $70 to $150.

PowerSchool announces SIS 2004

04/12, 8:15am

PowerSchool SIS 2004

Apple's PowerSchool division today announced the availability of PowerSchool SIS 2004. The upgrade to the Web-based student information system includes more than 100 new features, such as walk-in scheduling automation, increased flexibility and usability for meeting NCLB requirements, streamlined reports, and state specific special compliance enhancements. PowerSchool SIS 2004 is scheduled to ship June 25, 2004; interested districts should contact Apple directly for pricing information.

Pantone ships color selection tool

04/12, 8:10am

Pantone colorist ships

Pantone today started shipping colorist, a new utility that makes it easy for graphic designers to select Pantone Matching System Colors from within applications that don't already incorporate Pantine Libraries. Colorist supports such titles as Adobe Photoshop Elements, Apple Keynote, and Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash. The software also includes a dynamic, free Web utility called InspireME that offers an array of predefined color schemes created by Leatrice Eiseman, color consultant and director of the Pantone Color Institute. Colorist sells for $50; ColorWeb Pro users may upgrade to Colorist for $20.

Optimistik offers special NAB pricing

04/12, 7:50am

Optimistik\'s NAB pricing

Optimistik Animation is offering 50 percent off Handwritten Vol.1, its first LiveFont package for Apple's LiveType and Final Cut Pro 4.0, during NAB. From now through April 24 customers can purchase Handwritten Vol. 1 for $50.

Apple's Jobs number two among CEO pay packages

04/12, 7:45am

Jobs second highest paid

Apple CEO Steve Jobs' $74.75 million net gain from stock options in 2003 puts him second only to Colgate-Palmolive's CEO among executives who received the largest pay packages last year, according to The Wall Street Journal (paid subscription required). According to the Mercer Human Resource Consulting's annual compensation survey, 145 CEOs in 2003 exercised options for a net gain of $1.91 billion, up from $1.68 billion in 2002. We recently noted that should Apple have had to account for stock options as expenses, it would have turned a loss for the year instead of a profit in 2003.