DAZ offers Bryce 6.1 update for Intel Macs

DAZ Productions has released Bryce 6.1, a new version of its 3D software for realistic imagery. The free update brings compatibility with Intel-based Macs as well as interface and control updates to the IBL lab, corrections to the included content, and many bug fixes, including fixes to the Bryce Lightning network render application. Last year, DAZ released Bryce 6 with Advanced Terrain Editing via customizable Image Based Brushes, and improved rendering through Image Based Lighting (IBL) with support for High Dynamic Range Images (HDRI). Bryce 6 also offers Character Animation Import capabilities and enables users to export full geometric meshes of any Boolean object into any of the industry's most popular 3D applications. According to the company update requires a full reinstall of the application. Bryce 6.1 is available for $50 (as part of a 50 percent discount promo) with upgrades priced at $40.

Camino 1.04 browser update fixes security

The Camino Project has released Camino 1.04, an update to its free web browser based on the same code-base as Firefox. The security update brings several critical security and stability issues, including those fixed in version 1.8.0.10 of the Mozilla Gecko rendering engine. In addition, the developers say that sheets will now close as expected on Intel-based Macs and that they have upgraded the bundled Java Embedding Plugin to version 0.9.6. The update also adds support for importing iCab 3 bookmarks, improves the handling of Internet Explorer .url shortcut files, and now will automatically make a backup copy of the bookmarks file when it launches if the file is not corrupt (as well as automatically restore bookmarks from a backup when it launches if they are unreadable). Earlier this month, a beta version of the next version, Camino 1.1 beta, was released for testing.

Unbox TiVo service takes on Apple TV...

TiVo today ramped up competition with Apple by launching its Unbox on TiVo service, adding works from MGM Studios and Sony Pictures. Apple is planning to release its Apple TV set top box in the near future, hoping to snatch up a formidable portion of the market as it did with digital during the advent of the iPod. The new service launched with a promotional effort offering customers who sign up before May $15 in free downloads, according to Amazon. Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer yesterday spoke about the Apple TV at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference in San Francisco, presenting his aspirations for the device and touting the Cupertino-based company's recent addition of Paramount and Lionsgate -- which brought the number of movies on the iTunes store to over 400. Apple's financial chief also cited the track record of the iTunes Store, hinting that Apple hopes for similar growth with its Apple TV device.

Vivox releases Precision Studio 1.5 at GDC...

Vivox today released Precision Studio 1.5, extending the integrated voice communications software to Mac OS X 10.4 and adding several new features. The update brings voice recording capability, voice fonts, a customer administration portal, enhanced channel management, and improved user self-support tools. "This update was designed and built based on input from our customers, the developers of online games," said Monty Sharma, vice president of product marketing and management at Vivox. "It will allow developers to make voice more immersive, improve security and control, and enhance their players' in-world experiences. Our product development goal is to stay on the cutting edge of communications tools that power safer and more immersive games." Vivox is showcasing Precision Studio 1.5 at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) March 7-9 in Booth 959 in the West Hall of the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco.

Super Collapse! Puzzle Gallery released

GameHouse today released Super Collapse! Puzzle Gallery, an original game of colored blocks that features more than 300 new puzzle challenges. Players are tasked with removing all the blocks from the screen in the fewest possible moves, and a new hint power-up can help when things get tough. The game is designed to provide a unique and colorful exercise for the brain by offering unlimited play, a wide array of puzzle patterns, and classic Collapse power-ups. Super Collapse! (SC) Puzzle Gallery is available for $20, runs natively on Intel-based Macs as a Universal Binary, and requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later.

Universal LightWave open beta released

NewTek today released an open beta of LightWave, its 3D modeling, animation, and rendering package. The latest release adds native support for Intel-based Macs, and includes support for AppleScript. The software offers modeling, animation, dynamics, volumetric rendering, particle effects and a motion picture quality rendering engine with unlimited render nodes. The open beta download is available to all registered owners of LightWave 9, and is accessible through the NewTek online registration system. LightWave 9 is priced at $800, or $400 to upgrade from previous versions. The company also says it will release the final Universal Binary version for free to registered LightWave customers, once the update is completed.

Apps: Xfolders, SyncTogether, Audiocorder

• Creative Manager Pro 8.4.05 ($370/mo.) is a project management application aimed at middle- to large-sized "creative" corporations, such as advertising agencies. Among other features, users can assign staff, track leads, and send proofs to current clients. Due by the end of March, the latest update will allow CMP owners to send meeting requests to iCal or Microsoft Outlook users, who will be able to open the requests within their native applications. [Download - Size Unknown]


• Xfolders 1.5 (free) is a file manager that integrates with Finder while expanding on it at the same time. Users can drag-and-drop files between lists, or take advantage of the built-in terminal and image browser components. The browser is the only new addition; the update otherwise limits itself to bug fixes. Xfolders is a Universal Binary for Mac OS X 10.4, though the app may function with 10.3.9. [Download - 1.6MB]


• SyncTogether 1.0.1 ($50) synchronizes information on up to three Macs per user, matching iCal events, Safari bookmarks, and Address Book contacts. The program also supports third-party software such as Yojimbo and Transmit. Version 1.0.1 makes it easier to cancel sync, and improves remote category handling when new ones are synchronized. It also fixes problems with illegal characters in group names. Mac OS X 10.4.8 or later is required. [Download - 16.1MB]


• Classik Studio Reverb 1.1 ($400) adds virtual reverb units to a computer, in four different styles: Plate, Hall, Room and Inverse. Up to four macros can be assigned per unit. The v1.1 update makes the program a Universal Binary, and can now be downloaded without a USB iKey or dongle. The software has also been made compatible with Pro Tools 7 and VST 2.4 hosts like Cubase 4. [Download - Size Unknown]


• SketchFighter 4000 Alpha 1.0.1 ($20) is an unusual top-down shooter whose visuals resemble notepad sketches; users can also draw their own levels for new challenges. The v1.0.1 patch adds a shortcut to toggle fullscreen mode, and provides user-defined turning and acceleration sensitivity. Some bugs have been quashed as well, such as conflict with "secure keyboard entry" modes in other programs. [Download - 16.3MB]


• Audiocorder 5.0.0 ($20) starts and stops audio recordings automatically, using either volume detection or pre-programmed schedules. Tracks are saved in AIFF format with adjustable quality settings, though users can also play MP3 and WAV files if the need arises. Version 5.0.0 has been made into a Universal Binary; earlier downloads are available for Mac OS 9 and 68K-era computers. [Download - 430KB]

Apple offers refurb Mac minis from $649

Apple is offering refurbished Mac mini systems for as little as $649 alongside discounted iBooks priced as low as $719. The company's reconditioned Mac mini systems include the 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo with 512MB of memory and an 80GB hard drive for $649; as well as the 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo with 512MB of memory and an 80GB hard drive for $699. The Cupertino-based company's current iBook offerings include the 14-inch 1.42GHz G4 model with 512MB of memory and a 60GB hard drive for $999; and the 12-inch 1.2GHz G4 with 256MB of memory and a 30GB hard drive for $719. Apple is also offering refurbished AirPort Extreme Base Stations for $129 following the introduction of its new 802.11n AirPort devices. The Apple Store Canada is also offering its refurbished 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo Mac mini for CAD$789 with 512MB of memory and an 80GB hard drive. [click here for Apple Store Canada]

Fortune: Jobs left $2.7 billion on the table

Apple CEO Steve Jobs left as much as $2.7 billion on the table by trading his options grants earlier this decade. Fortune Magazine reports that Jobs accepted a colossal stock option grant in 2000 that the publication calculated to be worth $872 million at the time, but the executive considered the stock "penniless" and eventually traded it in along with another large options grant for a sizable sum of restricted shares. Those restricted shares today are said to be worth around $848 million, but the stock options Jobs gave up to acquire his current shares would today total more than $3.6 billion. Interestingly, Fortune published a cover story in 2001 following Jobs first massive grant that spurred a response from Cupertino's headquarters. In a letter to Fortune's editor Jobs offered to sell his stock options to the magazine for "half" of what it claimed they were worth, or $436 million, saying that the stock was actually "worth zero." Fortune declined the offer due to insufficient capital, but now says "we should have hocked the office furniture, broken our kids' piggy banks, and taken the deal."

Briefly: iMac review; Kodak printer dock...

In brief: The Washington Times has reviewed Apple's 24-inch iMac, Kodak unveiled its EasyShare G610 photo printer dock, and All Forces released a tutorial on email security. Iconkits.com has re-launched its website while releasing four new stock icon collections, and MacSpeech released a ScriptPak for Toast 8. In a rave review of Apple's 24-inch iMac, The Washington Times dubs the largest consumer-oriented desktop system "nearly perfect." "It's taken 25 years or thereabouts from the arrival of my first computer, a Sanyo MBC-1000, but I believe my search for the 'perfect' desktop one is over," the reviewer wrote as he praised the "massive" 24-inch liquid crystal display. The review model featured 2GB of memory, a 500GB hard drive, and a SuperDrive CD/DVD burner. The sound quality of the iMac's built-in speakers is deemed "astonishingly good," and despite its "hefty" price the reviewer insists that "frankly, you get what you pay for."

Everki's Fling Light Sling Pack for MacBooks

Everki has released the Fling Light Sling Pack, designed to carry 13-inch MacBooks. The laptop sits in a cushioned "nest" within the backpack, but is surrounded by numerous compartments, such an accessory space, pen, key and media player pockets, and a mesh stash on the outside flap. The Fling is made primarily of nylon and comes in three different secondary colors: white, blue and flax (brown). It is on sale now for $40-50 from retailers such as eBags.

Apple looks to NAND flash for subnotebook...

Apple is increasing its use of NAND flash technology in its future product development plans, and is designing a new subnotebook that uses NAND flash memory as its primary storage, according to American Technology Research senior analyst Shaw Wu. "Our sources indicate that Apple would like to introduce the [subnotebook] in 2H07 to further capitalize on its strong MacBook growth, but timing will be dependent on NAND vendors' ability to drive down pricing further, making it econmically attractive for Apple," Wu wrote in a research note obtained by MacNN. Despite aggressive price reductions in NAND flash over the past few years, analysis indicates that mobile hard drive storage still offers a price advantage of 7-8 times over NAND flash. Wu speculates that NAND flash in notebook PCs will likely be limited to the high-end ultra-portable market through 2007. The analyst also believes Apple is migrating the rest of its iPod line to NAND flash from hard drives, but says that fairly low price points and strong demand for high storage capacities will likely prevent this from occurring until late 2007-2008.

Camfrog 1.3 offers free video conferencing

Camshare has released Camfrog 1.3 for Mac, an application enabling Mac users to participate in large multi-user video conferences. The software works with Microsoft Windows as well, enabling Mac users to join video conferences with more than 1,000 users communicating from Windows systems as well as other Macs. Camfrog works behind firewalls, routers, and wireless networks with a live webcam user photo directory to ease the process of meeting new people. Users with broadband internet connections -- such as DSL or cable internet -- can set up and host a video chat room via a free download, and a separate download supports video conferencing from websites. Camfrog 1.3 for Mac requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later, and is available for free.

Apple to open 35-40 new stores in 2007...

Apple is aiming to expand its retail presence in the U.S. as well as abroad, with plans to open 35-40 stores in 2007 with more than 10 of those planned overseas. Apple chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer yesterday spoke at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference in San Francisco expressed his happiness with the financial performance of the company's retail stores. "We're going to continue to open stores at a measured and controlled pace," Oppenheimer said. "We expect to open 35 to 40 this year, with a little over 10 coming outside the United States." The executive said Apple invested in its retail stores last year and that he wants to continue that trend to make them a great place for customers. Oppenheimer pointed to roughly 20 Apple stores outside the U.S. as he highlighted the company's international efforts. "About 10 of those [international Apple stores] we've opened in the last year. So we're beginning to increase our international stores openings," Oppenheimer said.

Kodak debuts four new EasyShare cameras...

Kodak on Wednesday contributed its share to the PMA imaging expo, launching a quartet of EasyShare cameras, writes Electronista. The Z712 IS (pictured) leads the introductions as the company's new fixed-lens flagship: the 7.1-megapixel camera features both 12x optical zoom and image stabilization to help in focusing shots. It also has the shortest shutter lag of any camera at its level, Kodak boasts, taking only 0.26 seconds to move from pressing the button to being ready for the next shot. The camera will ship in April for $300.

iScrapbook design, print software debuts

Chronos today announced the forthcoming release of iScrapbook, an application that enables users to design and print scrapbooks in a new way. Simple one-step tools let users quickly draw shapes, add graphics, and arrange as well as align and rotate objects. The software includes designer special effects, and offers more than 30 shapes with "smart controls" to aid in custom design creation. iScrapbook includes built-in rulers, project grid lines, snap-to-grid functionality, real-time alignment guides, and full zoom capability. Special effects include image cropping, and photo effects -- such as Sepia, shadows, transparency, and linear as well as circular gradients. The software ships with more than 100 smart-masks for use on both shapes and images to create fades and soft edges or to add texture. iScrapbook is slated for release next month, and is available for pre-order for $30 until the official release, after which the application price will jump to $50. iScrapbook requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

Apple CFO talks Apple TV, digital video...

Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer today spoke at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference in San Francisco, discussing the Apple TV and its role in the future of digital video. Oppenheimer said that DRM-free media would be benefit customers and promised more video content to help build Apple's ecosystem. We have a portion of the transcript with his answers to some questions about Apple TV, the company's set-top box that will ship later this month.