Mac resellers feeling impact of Apple Stores

Apple Stores across the U.S. and around the world have seen an unprecedented increase Mac and iPod sales, but many Apple resellers are feeling left out. Apple's authorized resellers are continuing to lose sales to Apple's online store and retail locations. Apple and its resellers have had a "love-hate relationship for a long time," says Van Baker, an analyst at industry research firm Gartner. Apple's stores have helped to antagonize that relationship in some cases, because sales through them are "clearly business that didn't take place in the distribution channels," he says. Mac Made Easy, an Apple reseller in Honolulu, has lost half its sales since Apple opened a retail store in the city about 18 months ago, says owner Betty Markowski. Although Apple promised not to go after her customers, that's precisely what the company has done, Markowski says.

Square Box debuts CatDV Workgroup Server 3.5...

Square Box Systems today announced CatDV Workgroup Server 3.5, its server application designed to complement its CatDV Pro application and provide a cost effective multi-user video logging and archiving system. Every clip stored in the database is described and annotated by a rich selection of metadata which includes clip name, notes, tape or reel identifier, in and out timecode values, recording date, and technical metadata describing the file format. Each clip also has a thumbnail poster image, and can refer to a low-resolution video preview. The CatDV Workgroup Server is compatible with both MySQL 4.0 and Oracle 10g relational databases, and is available starting at $700.

SecureXML available for Mac OS X

Infomosaic today announced the release of a Mac OS X version of SecureXML Digital Signature. SecureXML makes it easy for software developers and system integrators to add industry standard digital signature to their Web and standalone applications. SecureXML provides functionality to sign Web pages, forms, XML data and documents in Word, PDF and other formats. US Health of Human Services, a lead customer of Infomosaic SecureXML Digital Signature, has licensed the SecureXML Java Applet for Mac OS X for use on 17 different PKI enabled Web applications which require digital signatures.

Apps: SimpleMovieX, Watch It, XPert Tools Pro

• SimpleMovieX 2.8 ($25) is a movie editor for Mac OS X. The update brings improved MPEG authoring through enhanced editing support, export and audio transcoding as well as compatibility with Tiger, improved MPEG saving reliability, and French localization. [Download - 1.5MB]


• Watch It 1.2 ($6) is a versatile stopwatch and timer that features a transparent, movable, and resizable main window. It includes the time and basic controls for operating the application. Version 1.2 is a free update that adds an info panel which make is easy to change modes and set the timer. [Download - 567KB]


• XPert Tools Pro 2.1.3 ($180) is a free update to the intuitive set of palette-driven XTensions, which brings both new and enhanced functionality to QuarkXPress. XPert Tools Pro includes XTensions for typography, scaling, layering, aligning, navigation and printing. The update adds support for multiple users and non-administrative users. [Download - 31.4MB]


• FolderGlance 1.0 (free) is a contextual menu items plugin for the Finder that allows hierarchical browsing of folders. FolderGlance comes with a preference panel allowing customization of folder depth and hidden file display, and works with Mac OS X 10.3 or later. [Download - 168KB]


• ObjectiveCLIPS 1.1 (free) is an open-source application which allows the creation of intelligent Cocoa applications with persistent object models and complex business rules. ObjectiveCLIPS provides the ability to write rules about objects and execute actions when rules match. [Download - 2.3MB]


• One Finger Snap ($7) is a preference pane which brings up the contextual menu whenever the mouse button is clicked and held, providing two-button mouse functionality. One Finger Snap is designed to work with any mouse, including Mighty Mouse, so the contextual menu can still be brought up by clicking and holding which essentially provides one more button. [Download - 480KB]

Arizona high school trades textbooks for iBooks...

Students this year at Empire High School in Arizona each received an iBook instead of a textbook, making the public School one of the first ever to shun printed textbooks. School officials believe the electronic materials will get all 340 students more engaged in learning, according to the report from The Associated Press. Two years ago roughly 600 school districts across the nation had pilot projects to provide laptops to each student, a figure that has probably doubled since that time according to Mark Schneiderman, director of federal education policy for the Software and Information Industry Association in Washington.

Intel moves from megahertz to 'performance per watt'

Intel will take a new marketing approach when it introduces new line of processors next week. eWEEK reports that the company will begin touting performance per watt (i.e., power efficiency) as well as overall performance rather than its traditional megahertz marketing--similar to Steve Jobs' presentation at WWDC where he unveiled the Mac switch to the Intel-based architecture. "Intel is expected to detail next week at its IDF (Intel Developer Forum) a plan to begin building multicore chips with the architecture, a modified version of the circuitry behind its Pentium M notebook processor, during 2006. Intel's announcement will publicly signal an internal shift that's already taken place. After years of promoting clock speed, it's now emphasizing overall performance and power-efficiency. Intel's shift to processor numbers and its wholesale move to multicore processors sealed the deal for the architectural change, as power can be a limiting factor in fitting two or more processor cores together into a single chip."

Xmultiple unveils an intelligent USB Flash drive

Xmultiple has announced its new FlashPoint "ShareDrive", a USB flash drive capable of transferring files between flash drives without USB bridges or an intermediary computer. "Sharing-On-The-GO" (SOTG) technology is embedded into Xmultiple's ShareDrive line of pen drives to easily download and upload files between the ShareDrive and any other USB memory peripheral, such as Apple's iPod. Powered by a rechargeable lithiom-ion battery, ShareDrives are available now in 128MB ($70), 256MB ($90), 512MB ($116), 1GB ($170), and 2GB ($230) capacities and feature automatic USB battery pack power management with a low-battery power indicator.

Serene Saver offers animated desktops

Kachikian Consulting has released Serene Saver, an animated desktop application that blends the traditional screen saver with an all-new animated desktop "where static desktop images are replaced by motion imagery of beautiful nature scenes, artistic impressions, and spiritual awakenings." "Serene Saver brings a bit of serenity to your daily computer life and is kind of like a window into the world right on your own desktop", says designer Kevin Kachikian. Serene Saver presents various tranquil nature scenes, captured entirely with high-quality and HD cameras, on your desktop. Serene Saver, which offers users the ability to submit their own homegrown desktops, bundles over two-dozen unique scenes. It runs on Mac OS X 10.3 or later and is available for $30.

Fastmac reduces prices on G4 desktop CPU upgrades

Fastmac today lowered prices on its G4 AGP processor upgrades by as much as 25 percent. The company says its upgrades include Level 3 cache to help boost performance in certain graphic-intensive actions within Photoshop, and in games such as Quake & Halo--even "when compared to CPU’s that use higher clock frequencies but forego inclusion of Level 3 cache." The models are now available for $230 (1.1GHz), $250 (1.2GHz), $290 (1.4GHz), and $350 (1.5GHz). The G4 AGP processor upgrades carry a 3 year warranty and includes 256KB of 1:1 L2 cache on chip and 2MB of high speed L3 cache, along with an integrated heat sink "that stays cool-to-the-touch even under extreme operating conditions." Fastmac’s G4 AGP upgrades are designed to work inside Apple PowerMac G4 AGP Graphics (Sawtooth), Gigabit Ethernet, Digital Audio and Quicksilver models.

Aspyr releases GameAgent 1.5 with exclusive offer

Aspyr Media has released GameAgent 1.5, an update that brings a completely redesigned interface. GameAgent is a free utility that allows you to easily match your computer hardware with the system requirements of Aspyr's game titles. Game Agent will automatically identify which games will run on your current system, or allow you to create a customized Apple configuration. It will also determine necessary system upgrades for any other Aspyr games if needed. In addition to new features, a new exclusive offer has been added: Users can now receive a five-title bundle for only $20 The Leave the Lights On Compilation (featuring American McGee's Alice, Clive Barker's Undying and Bloodrayne), Spyhunter and Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation are available, only through GameAgent for the reduced price of $20 for all five titles.

iPodNN: New Shuffles?, Samsung players, iPod stand

iPodNN roundup: The Plasticsmith released tux for iPods (pictured at right), an elegant and protective pedestal available for the iPod and iPod mini.... Apple will reportedly launch 4GB and 6GB versions of the iPod shuffle later this year.... Research firm PiperJaffray said it believes the iPod is continuing to gain traction in the September quarter, as evidenced by the number of iPods included on the Amazon Top Seller List for portable MP3 players and all electronics.... Samsung, in an attempt to lure more sales away from Apple's iPod, will introduce 12 new MP3 players this year (and even more in 2006).... Results of research by the National Acoustic Laboratories offer evidence that up to 25 percent of people will have hearing problems caused by listening to their iPods at "excessive and damaging" levels.

Mighty Mouse: TIME's 'mediocre' Gadget of the Week

Apple's Mighty Mouse yesterday was chosen as "mediocre" by TIME.com's "Gadget of the Week". Reviewer Wilson Rothman touches on the capabilities of the Mighty Mouse to launch Exposé, Dashboard, the Application Switcher, Spotlight, and other applications while complementing the overdue incorporation of two buttons and a scroll-wheel feature. Rothman's two major complaints stem from the fact that the side buttons cannot be assigned to something as basic as a "back" feature and that the new mouse isn't wireless. Noting that Apple didn't try to give him "a half-baked excuse", Rothman gives credit to the scroll wheel which is more of a track ball, capable of wiggling a page both up and down and side to side in "a fairly fluid motion". Rothman concludes by saying that he won't be disconnecting his Logitech MX1000 10-button wireless laser mouse with a lithium-ion battery anytime soon.

Lead times for Power Mac, PowerBook increase...

Investment firm PiperJaffray believes Apple may be "winding down" production of its current Power Mac G5 and PowerBook G4 models, citing an increase in the estimated days to ship for the Power Mac G5 2.7 Dual and the Power Book G4 15" Combo. The Power Mac G5 Dual 2.7GHz currently has an estimated days to ship time of 7 to 10 days, an increase from same business day (SBD) shipping on July 18th. The estimated number of days to ship the Power Book G4 15" Combo increased from SBD to 1-2 days. So-called lead times generally increase ahead of a product update. Apple's next major event takes place in Paris, September 20th-24th. PiperJaffray also noted an increase in the number of iPods and Macs in Amazon's Top 10 and Top 20 lists.

Elemental Audio debuts InspectorXL audio plugin...

Elemental Audio Systems today released InspectorXL, the newest addition to its professional line of audio plug-ins. InspectorXL is a complete audio analysis suite featuring six (6) individual, comprehensive, and customizable plug-ins addressing common audio analysis needs. Designed to be an integral part of the day-to-day workflow of audio professionals in fields from music production and sound engineering to broadcast production, InspectorXL is built on the company's free Inspector audio analysis plug-in. InspectorXL's six (6) audio plug-ins integrate spectrum analyzers, phase scopes, balance meter, correlation meter, stereo image mid-side meters, and peak and RMS level meters.

Briefly: iTunes, Apple.com traffic, Mac holdup, ...

In Brief: Apple is climbing in top 50 online website charts, drawing nearly 17.5 million visitors in July and placing it 32nd place in the top 50 online properties charts, while iTunes traffic was also up 13 percent in July (compared with June) with 5.4 million visitors.... motion|VFX today announced the release of Volumes 1 and 2 of motion|VFX DVD, featuring professional, ready-to-use templates for Motion software in HD resolution (1920x1080 at 24fps).... Iscentia has released second edition of its Iscentia Enterprise Report is available in both a print edition and a new complimentary podcast edition.... According to a recent survey, "users don't want MP3 mobile phones" with more than 70 percent of 4200 users responding that they wouldn't bother with MP3-capable phones.... A clerk at the "We Fix Macs" computer sales and repair shop in south Palo Alto received a head wound when he attempted to wrest a gun from a holdup man trying to steal computers.

PowerLogix offers dual-1.5GHz upgrade for Cube

PowerLogix this morning began offering a new 1.5GHz dual-processor PowerForceG4 7447A upgrade card for the Power Mac G4 Cube. The card is available from Other World Computing for $480. The cards utilize the latest FreeScale PowerPC 7447A and include 512K of on-board L2 cache. As with all PowerForce G4 7447A cards, this new model features an on-board thermal sensor and real-time thermal monitoring, and supports Dynamic Frequency Switching (DFS). “While there was a relatively small number of PowerMac G4 Cubes made, the demand for Cube enhancements remains strong,” said Larry O’Connor, president of OWC. “We’re glad to meet that demand with these great upgrades, which keep this four-plus-year-old machine running faster than even the G4 Mac models available today.”

Apple moves 'aggressively' to limit OS X x86 videos...

Apple is moving aggressively to limit the spread of the videos showing Intel-based versions of Mac OS X running on standard PCs. The company has reportedly sent "cease and desist" orders to news websites as well as other parties, demanding that the sites remove links to the videos showing "hacked" versions of Mac OS X running on non-Apple certified systems. Mac website MacBidouille reports that it received an "amazingly aggressive email asking for the immediate removal of all links to the videos." The site, along with other sites on the Internet, had used the videos to support news reports that hackers were able to successfully workaround Apple's a special TPM chip (Trusted Platform Module), which was designed to prevent Mac OS X from running on third-party computers.

Apple updates security patch to fix 64-bit glitch

Apple late Wednesday night fixed a glitch in its recent security update that prevented Tiger users from running 64-bit applications. As reported yesterday, the initial version of the Security Update 2005-007 1.0 accidently disabled 64-bit computing under Mac OS X 10.4.2, while addressing nearly three dozen other security exploits. Security Update 2005-007 v1.1, now available for both Client and Server editions of Tiger (via the web and Software Update), replaces Security Update 2005-007 v1.0 for Tiger systems Mac OS X v10.4.2. Apple recommends that users who have already installed v1.0 on Tiger systems to install v1.1. Version 1.1 of the update "provides a combined 32- and 64-bit version of LibSystem to replace the 32-bit version that was delivered in v1.0. No other changes have been made in version 1.1," according to Apple's documentation.

Nokia music phone to support iTunes-like apps

Finnish mobile phone giant Nokia said it had no formal agreement to offer iTunes with its upcoming N91 multimedia phone, despite an earlier report by Finnish daily Taloussanomat that indicated Nokia would bring iTunes to the N91 model, according to Reuters. The report also indicated that Nokia had already seen iTunes-like applications in research labs: "There is no commercial agreement between Nokia and Apple to integrate iTunes into the N-series devices," said Kari Tuutti, spokesman for Nokia's multimedia division. "But since this is based on a computer platform, anybody -- including Apple if they so wish -- can very easily develop this kind of application and offer it to consumers, via the Internet for example."

Mapwing Creator Pro creates virtual reality tours

Redbug Technologies has released Mapwing Creator Pro 1.0, an application designed to turn digital photos into virtual reality tours. Mapwing tours can be explored using Macromedia Flash Player and the freeware, cross-platform Mapwing Viewer. Mapwing technology allows users to build, share, and explore virtual reality tours, enabling anyone with a digital camera and a computer to create tours quickly and easily using the Mapwing Creator Pro application: users can build VR tours from digital photos by creating VR locations or "points" out of images, connecting them together to form tours. Each tour can be enhanced with an interactive map, text comments, website links, and detail image hotspots. Mapwing Creator Pro can save tour projects (.flyp) and streaming tours (.flys). The $300 suite runs on Mac OS 10.2.8 or later and includes the free viewer as well as Mapwing Flash Viewer, a server-side Flash/PHP application used to embed Mapwing tours into web pages.

Gefen offers DVI KVM Switcher

Gefen has introduced its new Gefen 2x1 DVI KVM Switcher, which easily connects two cross-platform computers to a single keyboard, video display and mouse (KVM) workstation. "It is especially useful for users of Apple Mac mini low-cost computers when combined with another PC or Macintosh computer at the same workstation." It supports stereo audio, high speed USB 2.0 and DVI video-in resolutions up to 1920x1200. It measures 7" (W) x 2.5" (H), and 4" (D), provides a switch button on the front of the unit that gives access to computer data in just seconds, and includes one five-volt power supply as well as an optional RMT remote that can access computers from a distance. The Gefen 2x1 DVI KVM Switcher is available for $200.