Forums: MBP whine, PowerPC plan

Forums roundup: Many are acknowledging some MacBook Pros have faulty components, which results in the infamous "MacBook Pro whine"..... After a recent rumor surfaced that PowerPC developers are still designing next generation chips, users discuss possible implications and uses of the new chips for Apple and future computers.... Several MacBook owners report their slot-loading CD/DVD drives are scratching media when the notebook is tilted slightly--and reporting varying success in trying to get Apple to fix the computers.... Users speculate about Mac OS X Leopard's features as there have yet to be any information leaks leading up to WWDC.... Meanwhile, a user asks for help finding a storage solution for his growing hard drive needs.

Briefly: national photo contest

In brief: Casio is teaming up with the National Park Foundation for the "Share the Experience" Photo Contest, challenging people visiting National parks, forests, fishing holes, and monuments to take photos for the chance to win cameras, a Ford Escape Hybrid, and vacations to federal recreation areas.... Peachpit today released "Real World Aperture" ($35), offering readers an in-depth understanding of Aperture tools.... Now Software today began offering families the ability to purchase four or five user "packs" of Now Up-to-Date & Contact, the company's group calendar and contact management software.... Early bird pricing is still available for the Photoshop World Conference & Expo, an educational event offering more than 75 classes over a three day period.... PlayFirst has released Sweetopia, a new downloadable game delivering "a sure-fire sugar rush," taking players on a fast-paced adventure through a mysterious labyrinth candy factory.

Alien Skin ships Blow Up for Photoshop

Alien Skin Software has released Blow Up, an automation plug-in for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements that offers the best image resizing capability available, according to the company. The plug-in is designed to make advanced image scaling easy while preserving smooth edges and lines, creating four 1600 percent enlargements from any image without jagged artifacts or halos. Blow Up features grain controls, enlargement-specific sharpening, and support for most image modes. The plug-in also supports 16- and 32-bit images, is optimized for multi-core as well as multi-processor systems, and works with the CMYK image mode. Blow Up ($200, $100 for upgrade) requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later with Adobe Photoshop CS or later.

webMathematica offers 64-bit precision

Wolfram Research has released webMathematica 2.3, supporting 64-bit computing to expand the size and scope of scientific problems that websites can reliably solve. "WebMathematica was already the ideal all-in-one solution for putting interesting science online, but now it's much more," said Tom Wickham-Jones, director of kernel technology for Wolfram Research. "We've added the power of true 64-bit computing so developers can build more dynamic sites and their users can experience the next wave of technical computing right through the Web." The update offers 64-bit enhanced arbitrary-precision numerics, multithreading support for numerical linear Algebra, major vectorization speed improvements, RSS as well as vCard import, and enhanced charts/visualizations (pricing and system requirements were unavailable).

RSS Replay 1.0 collects, formats RSS

RNSoft today released RSS Replay 1.0, a Dreamweaver extension for placing content from RSS feeds into Web page layouts. RSS Replay uses JavaScript to collect RSS content from feeds and applies user-definable formatting to present that content as desired. Users with Dreamweaver can create HTML and CSS which is easily applied to the content being re-published, using simple menus as well as dialogs to ease the process of making customized RSS output. The application offers full RSS support, Wide Browser Support, and presentation control. RSS Replay 1.0 is priced at $30, and requires Mac OS 9 or Mac OS X.

Apps: CenterStage, ScoreCard, Corripio

• CenterStage 0.6 (free) is an open-source media center suite featuring movie, music, and image management with easy viewing capability. Version 0.6 adds support for Intel-based Macs as a Universal Binary, compatibility with dual-monitor systems, accepts input from Apple Remotes, enhances support for smart folders, improves compatibility with eyeTV products, and adds support for RadioShark for AM/FM tuning. CenterStage requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later. [Download - 16.7MB]


• PC-Mac-Net FileShare 6.1 ($15) is a utility to share files, backup data, and remotely control media playback on Mac OS, Linux, and Windows systems across local area networks as well as the internet. The update features an enhanced activity list, improved backup plan notification, better support for MD5 files, improved performance, support for VLC media player, and many minor bug fixes. The software requires Mac OS X 10.1 or later. [Download - 22.7MB]


• Scorecard 1.0 ($30) allows golf enthusiasts to track statistics on Mac systems. The application offers comprehensive statistics, helping users discover trends and explore aspects of their gameplay that might otherwise go unnoticed. Statistics are viewable over a period of time, offering users an idea about whether they are improving or need to work on areas of play. Scorecard requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later. [Download - 1.0MB]


• Corripio 0.5 (free) fetches, previews, and syncs album artwork as well as lyrics for iTunes and iPods. Version 0.5 allows users to preview artwork, search more than one database at a time, choose file types that will appear in search results, and set symbols. The latest version also updates the help files while fixing several bugs left in previous versions. Corripio 0.5 requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later. [Download - 1.5MB]


• InDesign Font Catalog 1.5 ($10) uses Adobe InDesign to gather a list of available fonts and creates a sample of each font family's primary font style. The update adds the ability to make a sample for each font family, create a single paragraph listing style, automatically create bookmarks, create page titles, and customize character, word, or sentence samples. Mac OS X 10.3 or 10.4 and above with Adobe InDesign CS1 or CS2 is required. [Download - Pay-to-Download]

Apple, Coke to promote iTunes

Apple and Coca Cola have agreed to jointly promote the European iTunes site, according to one report. Coke will link its website to Apple's iTunes under the new agreement, offering millions of free digital music downloads on its drinks in the UK and Germany, according to FT.com. "For Coca-Cola, it is clear that as consumers spend more time online and we need to find ways to become an important, relevant part of their lives," Tim Kopp said, vice president of global interactive marketing for Coke. The deal follows Apple's partnership with Nike, The Gap, and Facebook to bolster its iTunes Music Store offerings. iTunes is the market leader of digital music stores, dominating the industry with more than one billion tracks sold as of February 23rd, 2006.

Apple issues Security Update 2006-004...

Apple today issued Security Update 2006-004, addressing numerous issues in Mac OS X Panther/Tiger Clien and Server. The update affects AFP Server, AppKit, ImageIO, Bluetooth Setup Assistant, Bom, DHCP, dyld, fetchmail, gunzip, Image RAW, LaunchServices, OpenSSH, telnet, WebKit, and AppKit. Users can update Mac OS X via the Software Update pane in System Preferences or head to Apple's website to obtain the necessary fixes. [updated]

Aegis Portable 2.5-inch drive ships

Apricorn today unveiled the Aegis Portable, a 2.5-inch external hard drive and backup system for Mac and PC notebooks. The pocket-sized device features an integrated USB cable, and is bus-powered to reduce necessary cabling. Additional features include ShirtPocket SuperDuper! backup software; Synchronize! X synchronization software; and Apricorn Encryption Utility software. The Aegis Portable is available in capacities of 40GB ($110), 80GB ($150), 120GB ($220), and 160GB ($300). The drive requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later.

Vodafone offers 3G modem for Mac...

Vodafone UK has released the Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem in the UK, which originally debuted in Australia early last month. The new modem is based on 3G technology capable of establishing 1.4Mbps connection speeds on UK networks. The model features USB connectivity instead of the traditional PCMCIA/PC card connectivity used in many modems today. Featuring full Mac compatibility, the modem fixes the problem which arose when Apple released its MacBooks without expansion slots, as well as the MacBook Pros with advanced ExpressCard technology which is still gaining market speed. Vodafone UK expects a 1GB monthly transfer limit with upload speeds of 384Kbps in the near future, and currently offers 3G coverage of all major areas. The company plans to cover 75 percent of the UK population by next summer.

Apple axes AppleCentre brand

Apple is phasing out the AppleCentre brand in Australia, and is asking partners to re-apply for their certifications. AppleCentre partners have until January 31st of 2007 to create their own branding and remove all references to AppleCentre, according to iTnews. The move to rebrand comes alongside the recently-announced "Apple Premium Reseller Program," which will offer marketing incentives as well as training to participants. Apple hopes the rebranding effort will improve the customer experience, and promised not to short-change reseller partners as part of the effort. Apple said it will authorize accreditation to partners that fail to meet the criteria or decide not to apply for Apple Premium Reseller certification.

Targus ships Bluetooth laser mouse...

Targus has released a new notebook mouse featuring Bluetooth connectivity and laser tracking. The Targus Bluetooth Laser Mouse allows the mouse to charge while in use with bus-powered USB 'trickle' charging. The mouse works at a range of up to 33 feet, and features an 800 or 1600 DPI switch. Designed for users on-the-go, the mouse measures 4.1 x 2.1 x 1.4-inches and includes a carrying case. Last week Apple introduced its own wireless Bluetooth mouse with four buttons, a 360-degree scroll wheel, and laser tracking capability. Much like the new MightyMouse, the Targus boasts 20x better performance than the previous optical version. The new Targus Bluetooth Mouse is priced at $80.

NeoOffice 2.0 Aqua Beta released

The NeoOffice open-source project has released NeoOffice 2.0 Aqua Beta, updating the fully-featured set of office applications for Mac OS X. NeoOffice bundles word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and drawing applications while integrating numerous of native Mac features. The software supports import, edit, and exchange of files with other popular office programs such as Microsoft Office, and is actively maintained by a team of open-source developers. Featuring native Aqua interface elements such as file open and save dialogs, NeoOffice requires no X11 software to install while integrating with Finder as well as Mail. NeoOffice requires Mac OS X 10.3 or later, and is available to users who have subscribed to an Early Access program. [corrected]

Intuit ships Quicken Mac 2007...

Intuit today released Quicken Mac 2007, introducing comprehensive paycheck management, 401(k) investment management, and a QuickEntry dashboard widget. The software's 401(k) feature allows users to download and track accounts, investments, share holdings, and daily prices from within Quicken. Users can also download, track, and verify the accuracy of information contained in paychecks via an easy-to-use interface. The QuickEntry widget enables Mac users to enter details of expenses without running the application. Quicken Mac 2007 is available for $70, and requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.

Zinc OSX 2.5.0.15 supports Intel Macs

Multidmedia Limited (MDM) today released Zinc OSX 2.5.0.15, an update to its flash application development software that offers support for Intel-based Macs, as well as Mac screensaver output capability. Zinc OSX 2.5 features new MDM Script 2.0 support, compatibility with Flash 8, functionality as a standalone application or a plug-in, and synchronous script execution. The software offers form-based development of flash applications, AppleScript integration, single-source export to Mac OS X as well as Microsoft Windows, and the ability to build masked projectors. Zinc OSX 2.5.0.15 is priced at $300, requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later, and is compatible with Macromedia Flash 6, 7, and 8.

Lexmark debuts new laser printers...

Lexmark International today introduced a new workgroup color laser printer series, the Lexmark C770 family, designed for business customers needing a versatile color printer that can handle a wide variety of media. The Lexmark C770 family includes the Lexmark C770n and C772n color laser printers and the Lexmark X772e color multifunction product (MFP) for customers who also want the ability to copy, scan and fax in monochrome and color from the same device. The Lexmark C770n can handle up to 1,100 sheets of media, and is priced at $1,000, while the Lexmark C772n is available for $1,500. The Lexmark X772e MFP adds the Lexmark 4600 scanner to a C772n with a large color touchscreen interface, and is slated for shipment on September 29th for $4,500.

Briefly: Apple UK promos, Mac WiFi ISP

In brief: Apple UK has launched a promotion similar to one unveiled in the U.S. earlier this year, offering a sizable rebate on a new iPod when purchased with a new Mac.... Apple UK today also began a new deal offering customers a rebate of UK$60 when they buy a new Mac along with a qualifying printer from an Apple retail store.... Tech Superpowers has announced that it intends to be one of the first internet service providers on a network that is being proposed by the Boston Wireless Task Force, which would result in the first Mac-only wireless ISP in the country.... Zengobi has announced that its Curio Basic Edition brainstorming and project management software is available for free for a limited time.... Iconkits.com has unveiled its latest stock icon sets which include Aquality Add On 2 Kit ($100) and Aquality Add On 3 Kit ($100), each offering 40 icons covering various concepts from computers to cash.

Rosetta's core technology wins award

Transitive's QuickTransit, which powers Apple's Rosetta translation software, has won the Morgan Stanley Innovation Award. "By enabling immediate software migration to chosen strategic server platforms, we believe that Transitive can help eliminate much of the difficulty and expense that companies face when upgrading hardware," explained Morgan Stanley Chief Information Office Guy Chiarello. Transitive was one of the first companies to offer the technology which was later used in Rosetta, and was chosen by Apple to provide the software that has eased the transition from PowerPC to Intel processors. Bob Wiederhold, President and CEO of Transitive, stated that the award was an honor and "That their evaluation has resulted in this award is a testimony to the potential of Transitive's hardware virtualization technology." Rosetta was initially criticized by Mac fans for being too slow, but Transitive defended its technology; however, since then Transitive software has been well received by many critics.

Apple responds to anti-DRM complaints...

Apple has offered a reply to criticism by consumer agencies in Scandinavia of its digital rights management (DRM) policy for iTunes. The Norwegian council is still reviewing the response which came in the form of a letter, according to InfoWorld, meeting the deadline set by those agencies which prompted Apple to defend itself. The letter will likely determine the future of the iTunes Music Store in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. "If they won't change anything, we'll most probably have to take them to the court in Sweden," Bjorn Smith said, a spokesman for the Swedish Consumer Agency. [updated, corrected]

Red Giant ships Knoll Light Factory 2.5

Red Giant Software has released Knoll Light Factory 2.5, an update to its After Effects plug-in. Created by Photoshop co-creator and Star Wars effects guru John Knoll, Knoll Light Factory can digitally simulate light effects called flares. Flares simulate reflections from a very bright light source as seen in a camera’s lens. Version 2.5 brings 25 new presets, including Flash Bulb, digital camera sun, and more as well adds a GPU engine for up to realtime rendering. It also adds controls for Light Factory Spectacular, including brightness and scale, and offers host support for After Effects, Motion, Final Cut Pro, Avid, and Premiere Pro. Knoll Light Factory 2.5 is available in two versions: Editors ($200) and Pro ($400). Knoll Light Factory Editors is targeted for users working primarily in one environment such as Avid Xpress Pro, Final Cut Pro, Motion, or Premiere Pro. Knoll Light Factory Pro is designed for professionals working with multiple editing and compositing applications in SD, HD, or film. Upgrades start at $100.

iTunes adds CNN, Adult Swim, cartoons

Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) today announced that programming from CNN, Adult Swim, and the Cartoon Network is now available on Apple's iTunes Music Store. In recent months TBS offered free podcasts of Adult Swim and select CNN programs to iTunes users. iTunes now offers many episodes of "CNN Presents" including "Taming the Beast: Inside the War on Cancer," "The Fight Over Faith." and "Captured: Inside the Army's Secret School." New Cartoon Network programming includes the complete first season of "Johnny Bravo." Adult Swim, the more edgy animated network for older age groups, offers "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," and "Sealab 2021." All programs are available for $1.99 per episode and available now.

Telestream acquires Popwire

Telestream today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Popwire, makers of the popular multiformat media encoding software for digital media production professionals. Effective immediately, Popwire will operate as Telestream AB, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Telestream, and will continue to be located in Sweden. "Compression Master is a desktop media compression application for Mac OS X users that supports a wide range of formats and compliments Telestream’s Flip4Mac digital media components," the company said. "The combination of Compression Master and Compression Engine, a server-based solution for high-volume applications, fits well with Telestream’s industry-leading FlipFactory transcoding workflow automation applications." Telestream said will officially introduce the integrated offerings at the International Association of Broadcasters Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam, which runs from September 8 through 12.

Apple's .Mac outages anger users

Apple's .Mac suite of internet/Web services has been suffering several outages recently, and some users have began to lash out against Apple. According to CNET News.com, users are claiming these outages are unacceptable -- some of which have lasted over three days. "Those new Apple adverts are now starting to irritate me lol. Yes, 'it just works' is looking funnier by the minute," wrote one user named Allan Bell. That user then went on to add that Apple should consider adding the word "occasionally" to the .Mac campaign. Other users cite this as unacceptable as iLife features "rely" on Apple's paid .Mac service for functions such as daily backup. Apple has acknowlegded the continuing problems and said that it was looking into the issue, but that was not enough for one user under the name "BK Broiler" who posted on Apple's discussion forums stating that "It may be time to switch away from Mac after 20 years."

Briefly: GPUs rise in Q2, SingShot

In Brief: A recent report from Jon Peddie’s Market Watch shows a 4.6 percent in second fall in PC graphics shipments, but a 16 percent year-over-year rise driven by a 32 percent growth in notebook graphics shipment -- with Intel leading the market, followed (distantly) by ATI (soon to be acquired by AMD) and a rising Nvidia.... CourseForum has released a new 'Basic' version of ProjectForum, a wiki-based software solution for collaboration, offering more features than the free version, but less than the 'Standard' version.... SingShot Media has released a beta of SingShot, a new Web service that lets users sing famous songs and then post them on SingShot where others will rate the performance.... Small Tree has announced two days of seminars where it will show off its high performance network solutions for Mac OS X -- registration begins soon.... Fast Icons has released a new, free six icon set, featuring the new wireless MightyMouse