Symantec offers NAV 10.0 for Intel Macs

Symantec this week became the second vendor to provide an anti-virus solution for owners of Intel-based Macs. The company today told MacNN that it has released an update to its Norton AntiVirus 10.0 for Macintosh to now offer compatibility with the new iMac Core Duo and the forthcoming MacBook Pro. Previously, Intego's VirusBarrier product was the only anti-virus software compatible with the new Intel architecture. "Users of the new Intel Core Duo machines need only to install Norton AntiVirus 10.0 for Macintosh and then run the LiveUpdate feature within the product. That update will automatically install the patch required for compatibility with Apple’s newest line of high-speed processors," according to the company representatives. Symantec also said that will be releasing patch compatibility updates for its enterprise antivirus product, Symantec AntiVirus for Macintosh, during the week of January 30.

Digital Heaven debuts AutoMotion...

Digital Heaven today announced AutoMotion, a powerful companion to Apple's Motion. AutoMotion is a complete solution to the previously manual and time consuming process of creating multiple graphics. "Not only does AutoMotion, create graphics in seconds by merging template styles with text data but it also manages the revision of those graphics in ways never possible before. Crucially as changes are made to each version, AutoMotion shows a live preview of the result complete with title safe areas." AutoMotion for Mac OS X is currently in beta testing and will be shipping in February. The software will be available for download purchase only from the Digital Heaven online store for $400. A 30 -day fully functioning demo version will be available at the same time, according to the company.

G-Tech debuts 160GB mini hard drives

G-Technology announced the addition of two new 160GB models to its line of G-DRIVE mini mobile hard drives. Available with either FireWire 800 or FireWire 400 along with USB 2.0 pport, both models include 5,400 RPM disk drives with 8MB of cache ad are Mac OS X compatible. The drives are available in titanium or black; they measure 4.9 x 3.2 x .88 inches and weighing less than nine ounces. Prices start at $570.

Pixadex, disclabel updated for Intel Macs

Developers continue to release new native Intel versions of their software: Pixadex, photoprinto, and disclabel are now available as Universal Binaries, supporting Apple's new Intel-based Macs. Pixadex 2.0.2 ($20) from Panic Software and The Iconfactory is an icon organization utility, offering Mac users the ability to customize folder icons in a Collection List. Photoprinto 2.0.2 ($30) updates SmileOnMyMac's software to create and print designer photo albums or scrapbooks, and adds compatibility with iLife '06. Disclabel 3.0.2 ($30)-- also from SmileOnMyMac- updates the CD labeling software, adding compatibility with iLife '06. Pixadex 2.0.2 requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later, photoprinto 2.0.2 requires Mac OS X 10.2.5 or later, and disclabel 3.0.2 requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

Briefly: Dosch, MS, Creative Technology

In brief: Dosch Design has unveiled four new products, including 3D: Airplanes ($120), 3D: Modern Furniture ($120), 3D: Security ($120), and Textures: Fabrics ($80)... Microsoft has put together a team that's considering an initiative to unseat Apple's iPod, by releasing a Microsoft-branded portable digital media device, according to one report... Forbes reports that Creative Tecnology's sales in the second quarter slipped 31 percent, from $11.84 million to $8.21 million... Dr. Bott announced the availability of Marware's Remote Docking Station for iPod, including an A/V cable, USB cable, and power adapter... Macsoft released a Zoo Tycoon 2 update for Mac OS X to fix issues with PowerBook and iBook trackpads.

Apps: HTTP Scoop, MediaCentral

• HTTP Scoop ($35) is an "HTTP Sniffer" for Mac OS X that captures all types of HTTP traffic, allowing the user to see exactly what goes on between the client and the server. HTTP Scoop acts passively, with no proxy needed, and can capture conversations between other machines on the same hub or over unsecured Wi-Fi networks. HTTP Scoop requires Mac OS X Tiger running on a PowerPC--a Universal binary is "coming soon." [Download - [login]]


• MediaCentral 1.1 (free) is described as a free alternative to Apple's Front Row; it plays DVDs and uses Splotlight integration to deliver video content in one place including any Video-TS files the user may have. MediaCentral can display live video for those using eyeTV devices, online TV streams from various countries, presents the user with current movie trailers; it is compatible with a variety of remote controls. [Download - 640KB]


• SurfRabbit ($15) is a browser add-on for Safari and Shiira that allows the user to customize how pages from almost any site are displayed. Users select what they don't want to keep, or specify custom style codes to further customize the page. SurfRabbit also allows the user to browse and install available rabbits-- collections of customizations submitted by other SurfRabbit users. SurfRabbit requires at least Mac OS X 10.3.9. [Download - 1.15MB]


• AKVIS Enhancer v3.0 ($70-80) is an image enhancement plug-in for revealing details in a picture. Enhancer users to detect details from underexposed, overexposed, and mid tone areas of a photo which lack detail. Enhancer integrates with Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Corel Photo-Paint, and more. Enhancer requires Mac OS X Tiger and a PowerPC G3 and above. [Download - 4.9MB]


• MenuMeters (free) is a set of CPU, memory, disk, and networking monitoring tools for Macs. MenuMeters monitors are SystemUIServer plug-ins which can be reordered using command-drag and remember their positions in the menubar across logins and restarts. The CPU Meter can display system load both as a total percentage or broken out as user ans system time, or as a "thermometer." MenuMeters requires Mac OS X Jaguar and later with a PowerPC or Intel-based Mac. [Download - 628KB]


• DYMO Label Software v7.5 (free) updates the driver software for DYMO's printer hardware, adding support for the ExecuLabel LM450 as well as the ExecuLabel LP350 tape printers. Version 7.5 also automatically adds a text object when users create a new label template. Version 7.5 requires Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later. [Download - 3.17MB]

MOTU unveils Digital Performer 5...

MOTU last week unveiled Digital Performer 5, a major upgrade to its digital audio workstation software that includes six new virtual instrument plug-ins, new track folders, a flexible Meter Bridge feature, new audio editing tools, a multitude of new film scoring features, new input monitoring modes, clip-based volume automation and many other feature additions and enhancements. "This major upgrade has incredible new features for beginner and veteran users alike, including several firsts never before seen in audio workstation software," said Jim Cooper, Director of Marketing for MOTU. Digital Performer 5 will ship in the first quarter of 2006 for a list price of $800. The company said it would offer existing registered DP users an upgrade path, but provided no details.

WD ships 500GB SATA desktop drives

Western Digital today announced it is shipping its new high-capacity 500GB Serial ATA (SATA) WD Caviar SE16 desktop-class hard drives. Providing a half terabyte of capacity for data-intensive applications, the WD Caviar SE16 500GB drives also deliver high 7,200 RPM performance with 300MB/s transfer rate, 16MB cache and Native Command Queuing (NCQ). The company said its WD hard drives are designed to have the lowest power consumption of any high-capacity desktop-class hard drive and that it has reduced WD Caviar drive noise levels to be "virtually imperceptible to the human ear" in home and business environments with its WhisperDrive and SoftSeek technologies (the latter streamlines read/write seeking algorithms). WD Caviar SE16 500 GB (model WD5000KS) hard drives may be ordered for $350.

Jobs holds keys to Magic Kingdom...

Walt Disney's recent acquisition of Pixar is already bringing about much speculation as to the future of the "Mouse House." Some views show Jobs instilling new life into Disney, much as he did since returning to Apple nine years ago, while others envision a future filled with strife amongst Disney board members as Jobs' famous need for control clashes with the visions of other top Disney executives. According to Business Week, the reason to trust Jobs' ability to breathe life into Disney is that Jobs is a savvy businessman who knows what consumers want.

PowerBook audio defect causes uproar

A group of PowerBook owners are crying out to Apple, hoping the company will answer their pleas with a solution to an audio defect in its 12-, 15-, and 17-inch PowerBook models. According to the website, the problem manifests randomly in Mac OS X as a looping/echo sound that magnifies itself for approximately 4-5 seconds, apparently stemming from Apple's internal hardware, as some PowerBook owners report that the problem disappears when they connect an external sound card to the laptop. One upset customer recently launched a website--PowerBook Defect Info--in an attempt to recruit other users experiencing the same issue. Apple has officially acknowledged the issue, but suggests that users run only one audio application at a time on their high-end notebooks as a remedy. Apple however has noted that it will provide updates as more information becomes available, suggesting that it is working to resolve the issue. Earlier this month we noted that Apple launched a PowerBook G4 Warranty Extension for some models affected by a defective memory slot.

ScriptPak for TurboTax 2005 available

MacSpeech has released a new ScriptPak for TurboTax 2005. The new ScriptPak installs over 75 commands into iListen that allows the user to do virtually anything by voice in TurboTax 2005 that they would normally do using keyboard shortcuts or menus. ScriptPaks enhance iListen's Command & Control capabilities by teaching it about the individual keyboard and menu commands in a specific program. The ScriptPak for TurboTax is available immediately and sells for $15, requiring iListen 1.6.8 or later.

Apple, MTV offer new iTunes content...

MTV Networks and Apple today announced that television programming from MTV, MTV2, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and The N is now available for purchase and download on the iTunes Music Store. The new content features top-rated favorites such as "Punk'd," "South Park," "Dora the Explorer," "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "Laguna Beach." The companies said that Nickelodeon's "Dora" is the first preschool program available on iTunes, while Comedy Central's "Stand-Up" is iTunes' first stand-up comedy program, and MTV's "Laguna Beach" and "Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Gauntlet 2" are the first reality-based titles available on iTunes. With the addition of these 14 shows from MTV Networks, iTunes now offers over 40 television shows for $1.99 per episode.

macware debuts Logo Design Studio

macware today announced logo design software for Mac users. Logo Design Studio is a new suite of creative design tools includes over 300 customizable logo templates, 1200 unique logo objects, a slogan/tagline library, and other object and text tools. "A good logo creates and maintains your identity," states Bruce Lowry, Summitsoft's President and CEO. "Logo Design Studio takes this critical design process away from the hands of outsiders, giving users the creative tools needed to produce unmatched professional results." Users can modify or import images, graphics and text in a variety of formats as well as add or create using shape drawing tools, organize layouts with multiple layers, and use grids and rulers for easy alignment. It export of logos at 600 dpi resolution and supports BMP, PNG, TIF, JPG, PSD and more. Logo Design Studio is now available for $40.