News Archive for 04/11/23

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Pogue: Mac OS X makes me more productive

11/23, 11:05pm

Pogue on Mac OS X

Davig Pogue of The New York Times says that working with Mac OS X has given him more time to be productive, while offering kudos to Microsoft Entourage, iMovie, and FileMaker: "I know that this will rankle all the Apple bashers, but I do most of my work in Mac OS X. I therefore spend zero time on viruses, spyware, maintenance and all those other typical computer time drains. I also use Microsoft Entourage, an e-mail program for the Mac that I consider head and shoulders above Outlook." [free registration required]

H20 Audio offers waterproof housing for iPod mini

11/23, 9:00pm

Waterproof case for iPod

H2O Audio has launched the H2O Audio SV-iMini, a fully waterproof and submersible housing for Apple's iPod mini. The SV-iMini includes a unique dial and push button assembly for use underwater providing full access to the iPod mini's proprietary Click Wheel controls. "Watersports enthusiasts can now take their iPod mini with them while participating in sports such as wakeboarding, surfing, snowboarding, swimming and kayaking. H2O Audio's patented waterproof headset is lightweight and designed to stay securely fastened through the wipeouts, flips and turns endured by today's surfers, snowboarders and wakeboarders." The H2O Audio SV-iMini housing and headphones is $150 and is expected to be available in December at selected retailers and at the H2O Audio website.

Digigami ships MPressionist HD 2.0 analysis tool

11/23, 8:40pm

MPressionist HD 2.0 ships

Digigami today announced it is shipping MPressionist HD 2.0 for Macintosh, an MPEG diagnostic/stream and picture quality analysis tool for broadcast engineers and video editors working with prosumer or professional HD video in MPEG format, including HD camcorders and ATSC HDTV and DVB broadcast streams. The new tool, which runs on Mac OS X 10.2 or higher (Jaguar) is an evolution of the DVD Picture Quality analysis tool released by Digigami in May 2004. The introductory price of $600 is available until the end of the year. The company recommends a G5 and large Apple Cinema display for effective use with 1920x1080i HD video.

Sonance to ship iPort later this month

11/23, 7:20pm

Sonance to ship iPort

Sonance today announced that the iPort, its in-wall docking station for the Apple's iPod that lets the iPod's music play over any in-home audio system, will ship this month. Compatible with Sonance's full line of IR control systems, amplifiers and accessories, the iPort turns any room into an iPod concert hall. Sonance also announced a suggested retail price of $600. "The iPort is the first product that lets it slip seamlessly into a home audio system. It’s a great new accessory for existing multi-room systems as well as for new installations, in one room, or in every room of the house." We first reported on the iPort in September. [images added]

iKey 2 offers system automation, shortcuts for tasks

11/23, 6:55pm

iKey 2 creates shortcuts

Script Software has released iKey 2, the latest version of its powerful automation tool for Mac OS X. iKey allows anyone to automate any computer action and fire it off via a hot key or menu or button on a palette. iKey now includes a wonderful manual and extensive reference written by Adam Engst. Version 2.0 is complete rewrite, offering components for entering commands, defining the context for availability, launcher for defining trigger events for command, shortcut customization, menu creation (with submenus), and palettes for multiple visual-based options. It also offers improved AppleScript support, automatic update checking, new metal interface/UI, the ability to re-use commands in different shortcuts, support for multiple commands per trigger, testing of commands, and more. iKey 2 is $30 and runs on Mac OS X Jaguar and Panther.

MegaSeg 3.0 updates Pro DJ/radio application for Mac

11/23, 6:50pm

MegaSeg 3.0

Fidelity Media today released MegaSeg 3.0, an update to its Pro DJ and radio automation software for the Mac. The new version includes over 100 improvements and new features, including a redesigned Dual-Deck Mixer, smooth pitch returns, bass and treble controls, right-click mouse support, multi-select editing, playlist sorting, HTML logging, library/playlist printing, restrict play dates rule, limit male/female vocalists rule, direct open/save to iTunes, improved category browser, new log browser, "related artist" separation, cold/fade end indicators, new database fields, and more. It is available for $200. Upgrades for current users is $60 through the end of November.

Apple releases Motion 1.01 update

11/23, 4:30pm

Apple releases Motion 1.01

Apple today released Motion 1.01, an update to innovative application for video/graphic effects. Registered Motion users can download the Motion 1.0.1 Update and additional filters and tutorials. A valid serial number is required to download the update. (Apple has not posted the details of the update.) The full version of the application is $300; it requires an 867MHz or faster PowerPC G4 or G5 processor with 4X AGP card, 512MB of RAM, and Mac OS X 10.3.5.

iceLink Plus adds dual mode operation, more

11/23, 3:55pm

iceLink Plus debuts

Dension Audio Systems today introduced the new iceLink Plus ($200), a major upgrade to its vehicle integration kit for the Apple iPod. The new ice>Link Plus platform has dual mode operation, utilizes the iPod as an auxiliary vehicle display surface and is 'future-proof' with upgradeable firmware and a modular design. iceLink Plus works in conjunction with the display capabilities of the Apple iPod without the need for add-on display modules. ice>Link Plus supports a wide range of vehicle entertainment systems, both factoryfitted and aftermarket including those from Alpine, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Kenwood, Panasonic and Sony. The new model will be available in early December.

Apple releases Bluetooth firmware update

11/23, 3:00pm

Bluetooth firmware update

Apple today released Apple Bluetooth Module Firmware Update 1.2, which it says improves Bluetooth performance and reliability. "When this Update package is downloaded, it will install the software updater (listed below) for the Apple Bluetooth Module in the Applications/Utilities folder. Double click the installer and follow the on screen directions." It is available via the Web or via the Mac OS X Software Update Preference Pane.

Apple launches website focused on college students

11/23, 12:35pm

Apple website for students

Apple has quietly launched a new students website. The site, designed to showcase Apple's Mac, iPod, and iTunes solution to college students, helps centralize Apple's resources for higher education. It offers a new design, recommended solutions, links to Apple's online store, a daily student blog and student gallery as well as links to special promotions offered at local-area institutions.

Aspyr ships Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword

11/23, 12:10pm

Aspyr ships Athena Sword

Aspyr today announced that Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword for Mac, the sequal to Raven Shield, has begun shipping and will arrive in stores by Monday, November 29th. Athena Sword takes the elite, multinational squad of counter-terrorist operatives to the exotic Mediterranean. "Your mission is to command Team Rainbow while tracking the desperate remnants of the international terror network from Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield. Prevent the terrorists’ agenda of international anarchy and devastation while completing eight new missions. Athena Sword also introduces five new multiplayer levels, five multiplayer game modes and seven additional fully-customizable weapons." It requires Mac OS X 10.2.8, the full version of Raven Shield, and a G3/G4/G5 processor running at 733MHz. The $30 title is available for order from Amazon.com.

Apps: Synergy, SoundFont Synth, Yummy FTP, ....

11/23, 10:15am

Synergy, SoundFont Synth

Synergy 1.5b brings 'sizzling' performance improvements to the versatile iTunes controller and cover art downloading tool. Version 1.5b features a complete rewrite of the communications subsystem to take advantage of new features in iTunes 4.7, which delivers a massive performance boost and keeps resource usage low--due in part to improvements in iTunes. [936KB]
SoundFont Synth 2.0 ($15) is an Audio Unit plug-in synthesizer which is compatible with most modern music production packages such as Logic 7, Digital Performer, GarageBand etc. Version 2.0 includes an option to use the Pitch Bend wheel on your keyboard to control a low-pass, high-pass, band-pass or notch filter. It also includes a new Spanish-localized version. [160KB]
Yummy FTP 1.04 ($25) offers both FTP and SFTP transfers. New features include direct access to 'Folder Favorites' and 'Direct History', new encoding and create new file toolbar items, more keyboard shortcuts, keep-alive for maintaining open connections, better display of permissions, sync based on file size and time stamp, improved window-based preference and settings, and more. [2.3MB]
The Analog Ripper 2.0 ($25) is billed as the fastest and easiest way to record from LPs Cassettes, radio or any analog source. It features full control over recording sample rates, sizes and channels, the ability to stop or pause recordings based on elapsed time or after a period of silence, stereo level meters and control of stereo gain, scheduling functions, and advanced editing functions. [Classic, OSX]
iSweep 1.3 ($15) allows you to find, remove and backup duplicate tracks in iTunes with much greater control than the duplicate view that is new to iTunes 4.7. iSweep also offers the ability to search your hard drive for all music files that are not currently registered in the iTunes Database and can also move all of these "orphaned files" to a custom location. It also adds a basic help and an notification sound that plays when a task is completed. [154KB]
fennel DVDManager v1.4 (donationware) is free DVD manager for Mac OS X, offering the ability to retrieve and update DVD details through online sites, manually add/edit information entries, track lending to contacts in the Address Book, create/manage box sets, and export a complete list of your DVD library, etc. It can now precisely update IMDb or DVDFr-based entries and also fixes some potential issues regarding DVDFr retrievals. [565KB]

Briefly: iTMS certificates, U2 box set available

11/23, 9:45am

U2 box set available

In Brief: Apple is now offering printable iTunes gift certificates at the Apple Store.... The Complete U2, the first ever digital box set, is now available from the iTunes Music Store.... Apple has grown the size of its global developer community by 2.5 times over the past two years, with much of the credit going to Mac OS X...Apple-history.com has been updated to include the latest iBooks, iPods and iMacs.

WitiBusiness 1.0 offers CRM functions

11/23, 7:45am

WitiBusiness 1.0 for CRM

WitiBusiness 1.0 is a new application that allows you to manage your prospect and customers, The customer-relationship management (CRM)-oriented application runs on both Mac OS X Jaguar/Panther, offers management of an unlimited number of contacts, to-do tasks, groups, and more. It supports Apple's AddressBook, the ability to personalize each contact with custom fields, send email directly from within the application, supports the vCard format with drag & drop simplicity, and more. The application is $50 and available as a free demo as well.

Boswell 4.0 offers information management functions

11/23, 7:35am

Boswell 4.0 released

Copernican Technologies today released Boswell 4.0, an upgrade to its innovative Macintosh organizing and archiving application. Boswell flexibly archives, organizes, and retrieves any text you give it: original writings, e-mail, web clippings, research, notes, etc, allowing information to be grouped, sorted, and searched. It also features highly detailed Manager searches and automatic cross-referencing functions as well as support for up to a million items of text in thousands of categories. Boswell 4.0 runs on Mac OS 9/X and is available for $100. Registration is required for a free demo.