News Archive for 04/11/04

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ToThePoint releases TaskTime 3.0 with new features

11/04, 6:25pm

TaskTime 3.0 update

ToThePoint Software has released TaskTime 3.0, a major upgrade to the time management software for Mac. TaskTime3 provides a straightforward method of tracking time spent on jobs you do for your clients. It can generate personalized invoices which can be emailed, printed, and saved to disk. New features in version 3.0 include: a "Projects" menu, compatibility with system time set to either 12 or 24 hour time, the ability to minimize the sessions windows to small, floating, timer controllers, a Client Manager, and a searchable User's Guide in PDF format. TaskTime3 is Shareware. The registration fee is $15 ($5 to upgrade for registered users).

Briefly: MacinTech meeting to feature Andrew Stone

11/04, 6:15pm

Andrew Stone at MacinTech

In Brief: The MacinTech Users Group of the south Denver metro area, will have special guest Andrew Stone -- founder of Stone Design -- at the November general meeting.... As noted by AppleInsider Apple has provided technical details of its forthcoming Spotlight technology in a new public developer documentation.... The United States National Security Agency has published a PDF guide on securing Mac OS X.... Any Apple employee who places an order for any Freeverse titles before the end of the year will receive 25% off their order total.

Contour announces the iSee-40 iPod hard case

11/04, 5:55pm

Contour iSee-40 case

Contour Design has announces the iSee-40 iPod case, following the recent release of the iSee-20. The iSee-40 is an ultra-clear hard case for Apple & HP 40 GB 4th Generation Click Wheel iPods. "Contour customers have been demanding more of the hard case line that started with our original iSee. They just love the low profile fit." The $20 case also features a flexible docking port protector, a top opening for easy access to the headphone jack, hold switch, and third party products such as FM transmitters, and a strong detachable belt clip.

O'Reilly releases "Modding Mac OS X" book

11/04, 5:05pm

\"Modding Mac OS X\"

O'Reilly has released "Modding Mac OS X: Extreme Makeovers For Your Mac" ($25) by author Erica Sadun. The book "shows you how to take control of your Mac's user interface, unlocking its secrets and bending its will to your own." According to Sadun, "Modding Mac OS X teaches readers how to take advantage of the undocumented power that lies beneath the surface of their operating system ... Almost everything that you take for granted as immutable--how an application looks, how it responds to your requests--is fully customizable in OS X."

Consumer Reports: '59,940 reasons to reconsider Macs'

11/04, 3:50pm

CR recommends iMac G5

The December issue of Consumer Reports magazine features Apple's new iMac G5 on the front cover along with the caption, "Unspectacular results for Intel's new processor. Plus 59,940 reasons to reconsider Macs. "Inside the issue, Consumer Reports writes, " In this atmosphere of low expectations, Apple Computer has actually raised its support satisfaction for desktop computers over the past three years to levels well above all competitors, while offering the most reliable desktop hardware. [...] Another factor working in Apple's favor: Macs are vulnerable to few viruses and little spyware because both target mostly Windows-based users. Symantec, maker of Norton AntiVirus, says approximately 60,000 viruses aim at Windows-based PCs, but about 60 target Macs." Consumer Reports, arguably the most respected consumer ratings publication, recommends the new iMac G5 for "reliability and support." The Dec. issue also highlights Apple's iPod as one of the best holidy gift ideas.

Apps: WinTel, Blue Coconut, Default Folder X, ...

11/04, 3:30pm

WinTel, Blue Coconut

WinTel 1.2.2 ($25) for Mac OS X offers an easy-to-use solution for configuring and utilizing the included optimized open source “Bochs” software, allowing operation of x86-based operating systems on Macintosh computers. This newest edition adds an updated version of the Bochs software, a more streamlined installation, and improved performance and stability. [Download - buy]
Blue Coconut 1.01 allows you to copy tracks from iTunes shared libraries to your Mac, so that you can make playlists or listen to them at a later date. The new version makes changes for compatibility with iTunes 4.7 while still working with older versions of the jukebox software. Blue Coconut 1.0 requires Mac OS X 10.3, and is free. [Download - 563KB]
Default Folder X 1.9.6 ($35) is a free update of the Eddy Award-winning utility for enhancing Open and Save dialogs in Mac OS X. The new version now allows users to access its Get Info feature by dragging files and folders onto its icon in the Dock. The release also addresses numerous performance and compatibility issues. [Download - 5.1MB]
DEVONnote 1.5 ($20) is a notetaking application for Mac OS X that comes with a completely revamped user interface and more than 100 new functions, commands, file formats and other improvements. The most notably new features are: automatic linking of words to other documents with the same name, user-definable labels, a new "Go" menu for easier navigation, and more. [Download - 2.9MB]
PhotoStickies 5.2 ($12) displays one or more photos on your screen, shows webcam pictures, acts as a fast image viewer, and records and replays slideshows. Version 5.2 is a maintainance update that addresses several smaller bugs and glitches, improves the sizing of images and caches the "New cams" list locally. [Download - 807KB]
ThumbsUp 4.0.1 is a free, drag-and-drop based utility to create thumbnails for a multiple pictures and supports all image formats used by Mac OS X and QuickTime (including PDF documents). ThumpsUp 4.0.1 brings an Italian language localization.[Download - 189KB]

World of Warcraft to hit stores November 23

11/04, 2:55pm

World of Warcraft in Nov.

Blizzard Entertainment today announced that its eagerly awaited massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft will be in stores in North America on November 23, 2004. The game will launch simultaneously in Australia and New Zealand, and is planned for release in Korea, Europe, and other countries throughout Asia shortly following. With a monthly subscription, players in these regions will soon be able to experience the epic adventure of the Warcraft series in an immersive and continually evolving online environment.

Apple adds customer reviews, ratings to iPod Store

11/04, 1:15pm

iPod Store customer review

Apple has added a feature to its new iPod Store that lets customers submit their own reviews--as well as a 1 to 5 star rating--for third party products listed on the store. "Within five days, Apple will take a closer look at your review. If it follows the terms and conditions described below, we’ll decide whether to publish it," reads a document detailing the new feature. Unfortunately, costumers are currently unable to provide reviews of Apple's own products. "All Apple products have a rating of "5 Apples" because we think they’re great," the company says. "Would you trust us to display less than perfect ratings on our own products? We didn’t think so!"

REAL Software ships REALbasic 5.5.4

11/04, 12:40pm

REALbasic 5.5.4 ships

REAL Software announced today it is shipping REALbasic 5.5.4, which improves several key features in REALbasic, including team development, shell scripts and OLE objects for Windows. REALbasic is an easy-to-use development tool that enables Windows and Mac users to create software for Windows, Macintosh and Linux. REALbasic 5.5.4 is a free maintenance update for all REALbasic 5.5 customers and is available now. New licenses cost $100.

MTX: Mototrax racing game goes gold

11/04, 12:40pm

MTX: Mototrax racing game

Aspyr Media announced today that MTX: Mototrax, an intense and complete motocross game for both Mac OS X and Windows, has gone gold and will begin shipping Wednesday, November 10, arriving in stores nationwide by November 15. The game delivers thrilling mud-slinging, fast-paced racing action at 60 frames per second. "Players become further involved in their quest for track domination with authentic environmental effects, realistic sound engines and a pulsating rock soundtrack developed for the game. Slipknot, Dope or Pennywise, among others, blare from your sound system as you race through such locales as the Hawaiian Islands, the Bayou and the Australian Outback." MTX: Mototrax requires a PowerPC G4/G5, 1GHz or faster and will retail for $20.

Opera browser to gain SlipStream acceleration

11/04, 11:20am

Opera 7.6 by 2005

Opera Software and SlipStream Data today announced the yet-to-debut Opera 7.60 Web browser will include support for SlipStream's Web and e-mail acceleration technology. The integrated solution enables ISPs to offer up to six times faster browsing on dial-up and wireless connections, as well as provides fast and secure access to critical data for mobile workers and organizations with limited bandwidth. "Opera 7.60 is set to usher in more innovative browsing features in keeping with Opera's tradition of revolutionizing the user experience while sustaining it as an easy-to-use Internet power tool." The public release of Opera 7.60 is slated for the end of 2004.

PhotoBooth 1.1 offers custom iPhoto print sizes

11/04, 10:00am

PhotoBooth 1.1 update

Stunt Software today announced the release of PhotoBooth 1.1, an update to their digital photo printing software. The update improves compatibility, aids borderless printing problems with some printers, and adds the ability set custom picture print sizes. PhotoBooth allows users to print full-size or cropped pictures directly from their iPhoto library, while conforming them to a specified size, and without altering the original image. The software is priced at $20 and is also available as a 20 day trial.

Apps: Auction Monitor, A Better Finder Rename...

11/04, 8:35am

Auction Monitor, Simon...

Auction Monitor 2.0 ($25) is a utility for eBay sellers which provides a unique way to track bidding activity on open auctions. Retired at the end of 2002, Auction Monitor is back with an improved user interface and a number of new features including activity highlighting, seller feedback monitoring, incremental audio cues for new bids, and significantly faster updating. Registered users of Auction Monitor 1.x can upgrade to Auction Monitor 2.0 for $20. [Mac OS X 10.3 -1.6MB] [Mac OS X 10.2 -1.6MB] [Download -1.6MB]
A Better Finder Rename 6.6.5 ($40) is a Mac OS X contextual menu plugin for the Macintosh Finder which allows users to quickly rename multiple files. The software is ideally suited for Macintosh webmasters, users who need to transfer files from or to Windows or Unix, as well as for all other Macintosh users who deal with large numbers of files. The new version now handles Apple iTunes AAC-encoded audio files as well as MP3 files. [Download -3.4MB]
wKiosk Browser 3.7 ($122) is a secure web browser that use the powerful Apple Safari HTML engine. The new version adds better support for JavaScript, an option to send email from wKiosk, favorites management (with pictures), greater stability, and an improved user interface. A free evaluation copy of the software is available for download. [Download -3.2MB]
Simon 2.0b2 is a beta version of Dejal's site monitoring tool for Mac OS X, which checks sites for changes or failures, and notifies you via e-mail, sound, speech, or other means. The application can also alert you when an important site goes down or recovers. Simon licenses are available in three levels: "Basic", allowing up to 3 tests, priced at $30; "Standard", allowing up to 10 tests, at $60; and "Enterprise", allowing an unlimited number of tests, priced at $195. [Download -2.5MB]
VirtualKeyboard X 2.3.5 ($12) is an on-screen keyboard that offers point-and-click typing using pointing devices such as a head mouse, mouse, trackball, etc. This program is designed primarily for disabled people but it can also be used to teach the children. The software runs on Mac OS X 10.0 or later. [Download -1.1MB]
Bubblomania X 1.0 ($15) is a fast arcade/action game, with subtle game-play, flashy graphics and music. Colorful bubbles floating up the screen, and you have to pop them by moving the pin on top. Some bubbles contain goodies like lasers, bombs or an extra pin, while others give bonus points. The game requires MacOS X 10.1 and at least a PowerPC G3 500MHz. [Download -17.0MB]

Monster iCruze plays iPod through car audio systems

11/04, 7:55am

iCruze for iPod announced

Monster this week announced that it has partnered with SoundGate to produce and distribute iCruze, Monster's latest iPod accessory that allows consumers to play their entire music collection through their car audio systems. Unlike conventional adapters that transmit music to your car stereo through FM frequencies, iCruze is an interface that enables the iPod to connect directly to a factory or aftermarket radio through either the car's existing CD changer or satellite radio port. An optional 20-character backlit LCD display, which reproduces the same information as that on the iPod, is available if the automobile's existing head unit is limited and cannot display text. "Since the iCruze is a direct connect to the automobile's sound system via the CD changer or satellite radio port, sound quality is also incredibly clear." With a suggested retail price of $200, the iCruze is scheduled to be available this Fall.

Microsoft expands European music download service

11/04, 7:15am

MSN music expansion

Microsoft launched its MSN music download service in eight new European countries on Thursday in an attempt to fend off a recent expansion push by archrival Apple Computer's iTunes, reports Reuters. The new countries include Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland. With the new territories, Microsoft has expanded its music download business to 19 market versions in 17 countries, including 13 Western European countries. "If you take all the new countries, we expect to overtake iTunes very soon because we will have a larger user base to tap," a Microsoft spokesman said. Apple's last week launched its iTunes music download service in nine new European countries, bringing the worldwide total to a dozen in Europe plus the United States.

UsedMac.ca offers Canadians Mac classifieds

11/04, 12:35am

UsedMac.ca classifieds

UsedMac.ca is a new Web site that offers a place for Canadian Mac users to buy and sell used Apple and related products. It is a free service, and is categorized by product type, popularity on the site, and ratings. Users can sign up for a free account to post ads.