Parallels to offer 'fast 3D graphics'...

Parallels is looking to improve graphic peformance and make other improvements in its virtualization solution, Parallels Desktop for Mac. On the heels of the new beta that brings improved USB support among other features, the company told Macworld that it will continue to make improvements, such as 3D graphics support to continue to build on the only currently shipping virtualization solution for Mac OS X. While Microsoft announced that it would discontinue development of Virtual PC (and not deliver a Universal version), VMWare this week announced that it was set to deliver a beta of its own virtualization solution in the fall (with the final release is expected early next year). Parallels told the publication that it was looking to offer "a groundbreaking new user interface that will make running Windows on a Mac easier and more productive than ever before" as well as new security and management tools and the ability to burn CDs and DVDs inside virtual machines.

Adobe posts InDesign CS2 4.0.4...

Although not yet Universal, Adobe recently posted an update to flagship desktop publishing application. Adobe InDesign CS2 4.0.4 provides key fixes in the areas of indexing, launch issues, transparency, shortcuts, text and fonts, scripting, inline graphics, InDesign Interchange (INX) files, German hyphenation, XML, library files, performance, QuickTime 7.x support, printing, SING glyphlets, EPS export, text import, and others. Adobe also said that the update removes a change that was included as part of the InDesign CS2 4.0.3 public update to address two changes that were made in the previous update, but caused problems for users. The update is available as a 41MB download. The company has noted that Mac users must wait for Adobe InDesign CS3, due out early next year, for Universal support, despite the recent Universal QuarkXpress 7.01 release by its publishing rival.

PoochMPI Toolkit for Mathematica debuts...

Dauger Research and Advanced Cluster Systems have announced the PoochMPI Toolkit for Mathematica, enabling Wolfram Research's Mathematica to be combined with the easy-to-use, supercomputer-compatible Pooch clustering technology of Dauger Research. This new technology extends the power of clusters: "Pooch has long provided users with fastest and easiest path to parallel computing", said Dr. Dean Dauger, President of Dauger Research, Inc. "Today we've truly run Mathematica in parallel, enabling its power to be combined with Pooch's ease of use and reliability. This creates one of the most powerful cluster solutions ever and a milestone for which we're proud." Inspired by the supercomputing-standard Message-Passing Interface (MPI), the PoochMPI Toolkit creates a standardized way for Mathematica kernels to communicate with each other directly. It is scheduled to be available by the end of September.

iEmulator offers discount to VPC users

iEmulator.com today released a low-cost upgrade path for Microsoft Virtual PC (VPC) owners "abandoned" by Microsoft. The software giant today announced that it is halting development on the Universal version of Virtual PC, but said it would support current customers moving forward. iEmulator -- a solution for users wanting to emulate a PC inside a Mac -- is available to Virtual PC owners for $20. The upgrade path includes the full iEmulator application, documentation, a version of DOS, unlimited no-charge updates to iEmulator, and technical support. iEmulator offers users the ability to assign up to 1GB of memory to each emulated PC, fast state saving/loading, full-screen as well as windowed modes, and printing support.

Parallels Desktop beta improves USB

Parallels at WWDC announced that it has released a beta update of Parallels Desktop for Mac, the first solution that enables users to run Windows and other OSes at the same time as OS X on any Intel-powered Mac without rebooting. The free update delivers USB improvements, including USB support for Windows Mobile 5, web cameras, and a much broader list of supported devices. In addition, the Mac hard disk cache can be now switched off for a virtual machine, which can substantially improve OS X performance while using Parallels Desktop. The update also brings improved graphic performance; complete keyboard support, including the "eject CD" button and right & left shift mapping for non-English layouts; Unicode path support lets users name files and paths in any language; and improved shared folders performance. The company said that the final release of the update is expected in the next few weeks. A free 15-day trial of the $80 product is available online.

OWC debuts 160GB laptop drive upgrade

Other World Computing (OWC) today announced a new 160GB 2.5-inch SATA drive upgrade and backup solution for dramatically improving storage capacity for the Intel MacBook and MacBookPro and providing advanced backup protection. The Upgrade and Backup Solution is introductory priced at $290 and features a new perpendicular technology-based 160GB 2.5-inch Seagate Momentus 5400.3 SATA hard drive mechanism, which debuted earlier this week along with EMC Retrospect Backup software, full installation video support, a 5-year mechanism warranty, and a 30-day DOA replacement warranty. Factory hard drives being replaced with the new OWC Upgrade Solution qualify for a trade-in cash rebate of up to $75. Or, factory drives can be paired with an OWC Mercury On-The-Go SATA enclosure for $90 to create a pocket-sized, impact resistant external storage solution. Additional OWC HD Upgrade Solutions for Intel Macs are available in 100GB, 7200RPM and 120GB, 5400RPM capacities starting at $150.

Digidesign promises Mac Pro support...

Digidesign has announced that ICON, Pro Tools|HD, Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered systems will soon be compatible with the new Mac Pro introduced yesterday at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Digidesign says it is expecting to release an Intel-based Mac-compatible update to its Pro Tools HD 7.2 software in September 2006. This free update for all owners of Pro Tools HD 7.2 software will allow ICON and Pro Tools|HD users to build their Digidesign system around the new Mac Pro. Within a similar timeframe, the company expects to release compatible versions of its range of Digidesign and Digidesign-distributed TDM plug-ins, while working very closely with third-party manufacturers to help them port their plug-ins and compatible applications to the Intel-based Mac platform.

Ruby on Rails to ship with Leopard

Apple has officially confirmed that Ruby on Rails (RoR) will ship with Mac OS X Leopard, and a developer seed was distributed at WWDC containing Ruby 1.8.4 as well as Rails 1.1.2. "We fully expect to have Rails 1.2.x along with Mongrel, SQLite bindings, and lots of other Ruby goodies on the final gold master when it goes out in spring," wrote one Ruby on Rails team member. "It's been no secret that Apple is held in very high regard by the Rails community. Every single Rails Core contributor is running on Apple and the vast majority of Rails developers are too. To see Apple acknowledge this and return the favor is very rewarding."

Otterbox offers 'waterproof' laptop cases...

Otter Products has released a new laptop case for computers with displays up to 17-inches. The new case, the OtterBox 70x0 series, comes in three sizes to match tradition laptop screen sizes: the 7020 for specifically for 13-inch or smaller screens; the 7030 designed for up to 15-inch screens; and the 7040 designed specifically for 17-inch or smaller laptops. The cases feature easy open mechanisms; protection from dust, water, and drop; locking latches; shock resistance; and customizable internal configurations. The case is made out of a hard material which is able to withstand a 250 pound person jumping on it and a full bottle of water poured directly upon it. The Otterbox 7030 is available now for $170 with the 7020 and 7040 models available upon customer request (price not listed).

Casio offers three new Exilim cameras

Casio on Tuesday unveiled three new cameras in its ultra-slim Exilim line, according to Electronista. All three mdoels offer 7.2 megapixels resolution and feature a unique eBay mode tailored to small photos. The EX-Z70 offers a 2.5-inch LCD and 'Easy Mode' for $250, while the EX-Z700 features a 2.7-inch LCD and auto-framing of moving subjects; and finally the EX-S770 offers a 2.8-inch LCD, wide-aspect video recording, and a document conversion feature that lets you see text and other formats as photos for mobile viewing. All three models are expected to ship in September.

Progeniq BioBoost v3.0 for Intel Macs...

Progeniq today announced a Universal version of its third-generation BioBoost v3.0 bioinformatics data processing accelerator for Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger". BioBoost can leverage the new Intel-based Macs to make commonly used bioinformatics applications, such as Pairwise and Multiple Sequence Alignment, up to 10x-50x faster than a typical processor, according to the company. BioBoost accelerators provide hardware processing for the most computationally intensive applications. By utilizing Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology, the processor is able to 'rewire' itself on the fly according to the application that needs to be accelerated. This allows a single hardware accelerator to speed up any number of supported applications. The Universal version of BioBoost allows applications to run on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs. Adding BioBoost removes computational bottlenecks and optimizes the entire workflow providing final results faster. [pricing not available]

Pentax debuts water-proof Optio W20

Pentax on Tuesday debuted the Optio W20 camera, a successor in its water-proof digital camera line. Like its predecessor the W10, the W20 is meant for trips to the beach or pool where it would be too dangerous to risk dropping most other cameras in the water. The W20 will keep its internals dry as deep as 1.5 meters and can be used continuously underwater for about 30 min. It also sports improved 7 megapixel resolution and a blur reduction mode that auto-adjusts ISO levels for low light and multiple auto-focus modes for action shots and portraits. There is no official word yet on pricing or availability, according to Electronista.

Briefly: DarwinPorts joins MOF

In brief: The DarwinPorts project today announced its intention to accept hosting for its efforts through the new Mac OS Forge (MOF) facility being set up by Apple.... New Apple Mac Pro systems which debuted yesterday at WWDC have an estimated shipment time of 2-4 weeks.... Disgruntled PC owners in Poland are crying out for Apple Poland to reduce pricing and increase competition with the one alleged distributor of Apple services.... Gefen today announced that its video signal extenders are the first to achieve Nvidia certification for optimal signal quality over long distances.... D-Link today announced a back-to-school promotion offering cash-back on a wide range of its connectivity products for students and families gearing up for the new school year.... PodShop today is celebrating Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) with a sale price on iDrops, its cleaning, polishing, and scratch-removal product.

New Mac-sized Otterbox laptop cases...

Otter Products has released a new laptop case for computers with displays between 13 and 17 inches. The new case, OtterBox 70x0 series, comes in three sizes to match laptop screen sizes; the 7020 for specifically for 13 inch or smaller screens; the 7030 designed for up to 15 inch screens; and the 7040 designed specifically for 17 inch or smaller laptops. The cases feature easy open mechanisms; protection from dust, water, and drop; locking latches; shock resistance; and customizable internal configurations. The case is made out of a hard material which is able to withstand a 250 pound person jumping on it and a full bottle of water poured directly upon it. The Otterbox 7030 is available now for $170 with the 7020 and 7040 models available upon customer request -- price not listed. [Images included]

GA migrates to Universal QuarkXPress

Quark today announced that GA Communications has upgraded to the Universal version of QuarkXPress 7 on Apple's Intel-based Macs. "As a dedicated QuarkXPress user for more than 15 years, GA Communications was an early adopter of QuarkXPress 7 and has been using the software in production since May of this year," said Quark. "After testing the beta software, GA communications decided to upgrade to QuarkXPress 7 based on the new product features and the availability of the native Universal version of QuarkXPress 7, which runs natively as a Universal application on the new Intel Core Duo processor-based Macintosh computers." GA Communications has already migrated 100 percent of its Mac hardware at its Pittsburgh office, and has plans to complete the QuarkXPress 7 Universal implementation by the end of 2006.

Apple joins CalConnect

Apple has publicly announced its membership in The Calendaring and Scheduling Consortium, as well as an open-source implementation of its calendaring server. "Apple has been a significant contributor to the development of CalDAV and other calendaring standards, and to the work of the Consortium," said Dave Thewlis, executive director of the Calendaring and Scheduling Consortium. "Apple's release of its new iCal calendaring server to the open-source community demonstrates a solid commitment to open standards and to interoperable calendaring and scheduling, which are keystones of CalConnect's mission." Apple is also planned serve as host for the Seventh Roundtable of The Calendaring and Scheduling Consortium, together with a CalConnect Interoperability Test Event (C.I.T.E.) on September 26-29th, 2006.

Refurbished MacBook Pros, MacBooks

Apple is offering refurbished MacBooks and MacBook Pros, its low- and high-end notebooks with a standard one-year warranty and free shipping. Refurbished MacBooks include the White 1.83GHz model with 512MB of memory, a 60GB hard drive, and a Combo drive DVD-ROM CD-RW for $949, a $150 savings; the White 2.0GHz model with 512MB of memory, a 60GB hard drive, and a SuperDrive DVD±RW/CD-RW for $1,099, a $200 discount; and the Black 2.0GHz model with 512MB of memory, an 80GB hard drive, and a SuperDrive DVD±RW/CD-RW for $1,299, or $200 off. Apple's refurbished 15-inch MacBook Pros include the 1.83GHz (512MB of memory, 80GB hard drive) model for $1,549; the 2.0GHz (512MB of memory, 80GB hard drive) model for $1,699; the Glossy 2.0GHz (512MB of memory, 80GB hard drive) model for $1,699; the 2.0GHz (1GB of memory, 100GB hard drive) model for $1,949; and the 2.16GHz (1GB of memory, 100GB hard drive) model for $2,149 in both standard and Glossy editions.

FontAgent Pro 3.3, Server 1.2 released

Insider Software today released FontAgent Pro Server 1.2 and FontAgent Pro 3.3, updating its font management and repair software. The latest iterations of the Font utilities offer increased speed and native support for Apple's new Intel-based systems. FontAgent Pro 3.3 features an auto-activation plug-in for Adobe InCopyCS2; a Universal Binary auto-activation XTension for QuarkXPress 7 as well as QuarkXPress 7 for Intel Macs; and updates to French, German, and Italian localized versions. FontAgent Pro Server 1.2 enables automatic font distribution and synchronization while supporting the newest hardware from Apple. FontAgent Pro ($100) and FontAgent Pro Server ($1,500) maintain backwards compatibility with Power PC G4 and G5 machines, continuing its support for Classic Mac installations. The software requires Mac S X 10.3 or later.

160GB Mac laptop overnight upgrades

TechRestore today began offering a 160GB SATA overnight upgrade for laptops featuring a Serial ATA interface such as Apple's MacBook and MacBook Pro, as well as newer PC laptop models. The new upgrade offers installation of the new drive and data transfer from the old hard drive onto the new storage device. TechRestore transfers a clone of the old hard drive, ensuring that the new drive is ready for immediate use when the laptop is returned via an overnight courier. The 160GB overnight upgrade is available for $330 including the hard drive, installation, and data transfer along with a one-year warranty from TechRestore and a 5-year warranty on the hard drive from the manufacturer.

AJA offers support for Mac Pro

AJA Video has announced support for Apple's new Mac Pro Intel-based professional desktop systems. AJA's Io, IoLA and IoLD provide uncompressed video over FireWire for Apple's Final Cut Studio with Universal Binary support to work with any of the Mac Pro configurations. New version 3 software for the PCIe based KONA video cards from AJA, including the KONA 3, KONA LHe and KONA LSe, will be available by the end of the month, according to AJA. The company also said it will continue to support previous generation Power Mac G5 systems. "We've been working on Universal Binary support for over a year and we're pleased to ship our KONA version 3 software right on the heels of Apple's first customer shipment of the Mac Pro," said Nick Rashby, director of sales and marketing for AJA Video Systems.

NI LabVIEW 8.20 works with MATLAB...

National Instruments today released NI LabVIEW 8.20, the 20th anniversary edition of the LabVIEW graphical system design platform for test, control and embedded system development. The LabVIEW anniversary edition introduces general compatibility with MATLAB software, new FPGA-based custom hardware design wizards for building industrial controllers, and updates to the NI Modulation Toolkit for LabVIEW allowing engineers to develop models to simulate communications systems and evaluate parameter as well as design decisions. LabVIEW is priced at $1,200 for a base edition, $2,400 for a full installation, $4,100 for the professional version, and $4,300 for the NI Developer Suite. The software requires Mac OS X 10.3 or later.

PlayFirst releases two more Mac games

PlayFirst has released two new Mac games, adding to its expanding library of Mac compatible games. The first, Diner Dash 2: Restaurant Rescue ($20) is developed internally by PlayFirst and follows returning character, Flo, trying to save four friends from the Mr. Big Corp. Players must manage several new customer types including the Family, Bookworm, Fitness Fanatic, and Cell Phone Addict. Diner Dash 2 also introduces new obstacles on the restaurant floor and options to customize the decor of each restaurant. The second game, Egg vs. Chicken ($20) developed by Gamelab is a combination strategy and action puzzle game focused on a small team of runaway eggs taking on a mighty army of "marauding" chickens as it travels through time to resolve the riddle, "Which came first?" With a traditional slide puzzle layout, players must slip their eggs into position, and then launch attacks against "ruthless roosters" and "harrowing hens." Both games require a G4/G5/Intel processor running at 850MHz or faster and Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later. A free download allowing 60 minutes of gameplay is available for online. [Download - DinerDash 2, Egg vs. Chicken]

ATTO host adapters support Intel Macs...

ATTO Technology on Tuesday announced support for the Apple's Intel-based Mac architecture, saying that it now offers native support for the new machines with its complete line of SCSI, Fibre Channel and SAS Host and RAID adapters. "ATTO ExpressPCI SCSI adapters, Celerity Fibre Channel adapters, and ExpressSAS RAID adapters are the only PCI Express (PCIe) adapters available today that support Mac OS X on the Intel platform," the company said. "As members of the Intel Storage Community and Managed Developers Program, ATTO worked closely with Intel to design our host adapters to take advantage of the innovative performance of the 64-bit dual-core Intel Xeon Processor and achieve immediate market delivery."

Apple opens Tiger Darwin kernel...

Apple has released buildable Darwin/Mac OS X kernel source code for Mac OS X 10.4.7, following rumors that the company was shying away from the open-source movement. "As of today, we are posting buildable kernel sources for Intel-based Macs alongside the usual PowerPC (and other Intel) sources, starting with Mac OS X 10.4.7," said Ernest Prabhakar, open-source product manager for Apple. "We regret the delay in readying the new kernel for release, and thank you for your patience." the Cupertino-based company has also launched Mac OS Forge -- a new community site to support WebKit and other open-source projects focused on Mac OS X -- specifically aimed at those looking to transition from Opendarwin.org, which closed down in late July.

Buy rating proped up by good WWDC...

The analyst reaction to Apple's WWDC Keynote has been somewhat mixed between neutrality or disappointment to excitement, Wall Street analyst Wu Shaw expresses some mixed feelings on the announcements. Three key announcements were made at WWDC according to Shaw; one, the transition to Intel is complete with Apple's Mac Pro and Xserve utilizing Intel 64-bit Xeon processors; two, Mac OS X Leopard is positioned to maintain its lead with 10 new unique features such as Time Machine and Core Animation among others, and; three, Mac OS X Leopard will also include unannounced "secret" features for when it ships in Spring 2007. The concern over these announcements includes the later than ideal Leopard ship date along with the lack of Core 2 Duo announcements for other computer lines. Shaw, however, maintains a Buy rating and $75 price target crediting Apple's competitive advantages and growth prospects remaining among the strongest in large-cap technology

Bob Dylan's "Modern Times" on iTunes

Apple and Columbia Records on Tuesday announced that the new album “Modern Times” by Bob Dylan will be offered through an exclusive pre-order on the iTunes Music Store. Apple also announced iTunes customers who pre-order “Modern Times” from iTunes for $13.99 will also be offered the opportunity to participate in an exclusive Ticketmaster pre-sale for concert tickets to select dates on Bob Dylan’s upcoming fall tour. An exclusive Bob Dylan digital box set called “The Collection” includes all of Bob Dylan’s albums -- nearly 800 tracks from his career. The Bob Dylan digital box set will be available for purchase and download with just one click for $199, exclusively from iTunes beginning August 29. Apple CEO Steve Jobs state that, “Bob Dylan is one of the most respected poets and musicians of our time, and he is a personal hero of mine [...] being able to offer his new album and the exclusive box set of his works on iTunes is a real thrill for us.”

MacMice releases laser-based "The Mouse"...

Following the release of The Mouse Bluetooth II, MacMice has announced an updated version of its USB input device, The Mouse. The new corded mouse, officially known as The Mouse II, features a new laser tracking engine capable of 1600 dpi precision. The new mouse features a 'classic' look maintaining a thick, clear gloss over the surface of the mouse similar to the Apple Pro Mouse. The Mouse II also includes two 'true' buttons with a clickable scroll wheel, a five-foot long USB cable, and plug-and-play compatibility with either Mac OS X or Win XP systems. The new mouse is targeted for uses such as image or video work, drawing or graphics projects, and detailed document creation tasks. The new mouse costs $30 and is now shipping to United States customers only.