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StuffIt Deluxe 12 increases file compression

updated 09:00 am EDT, Wed October 10, 2007

StuffIt Deluxe 12 released

Smith Micro has released the latest version of StuffIt Deluxe, its file compression utility. Updates to Deluxe 12 are centered around the proprietary StuffIt X format, which has been given enhanced performance when compressing specific file types. MP3 files can be shrunk without a reduction in audio quality, while images such as TIFF and PNG files are compressed using a new 24-bit engine. The same engine is also targeted at Office 2007 and iWork documents, and can specifically compress files embedded within Pages, Numbers and Keynote documents.

Archived images can now be viewed as thumbnails, and when creating compressed backups, any ZIP files detected can be re-compressed. StuffIt Deluxe 12 is a Universal Binary for Mac OS X 10.4; the full version costs $80, but owners of earlier versions or StuffIt Standard can upgrade for $30.

 
Previous Comments

does anyone know

10/10, 09:10am reply

Can you for example compress your itunes library and then still play the songs in itunes? ie - unpack them on the fly? That'd be handy.

zaghahzag

Dedicated MacNNer

Joined: Aug 2006

0

Oh c'mon

10/10, 09:23am reply

StuffIt hasn't been relevant since like OS 9. And the decline into shittiness really began somewhere around System 7.1.

sputschic

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2007

0

Riiiiiight...

10/10, 09:24am reply

As if they're getting any significant compression of files that are already compressed, .jpg, .mp3. Also, most anyone wanting to compress TIFF files will be doing it in Photoshop.

Why would anyone even dream of spending all this time wrapping your files in a proprietary format, while storage is as cheap as it is? If hard drives cost x4 what they cost now, yeah I could see spending hours upon hours compressing & uncompressing hundreds and hundreds of gigs of files using a compression utility. But what if 5-10 years from now the product is no longer available because the company has gone out of business or was discontinued, and you can no longer un-archive the data?

gskibum3

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2006

0

why?

10/10, 09:57am reply

I know they're trying to stay relevant, but this seems like a really bad idea. Recompressing already compressed files doesn't work well, and wrapping files in a proprietary format is BAD. Apple has standardized on zip compression, it's built into Mac OS. It's an open format, usable with open source software.

I have for the last few years been removing every Stuffit product but Expander from my customers' systems. I would recommend that you do the same.

DarkVader

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2001

0

i don't know

10/10, 10:29am reply

I've actually like the .SITX format since they released it_ Better compression than ZIP and pretty stable to boot_

BUT at the same time - the last version boasted the whole JPEG Compression thing - and tho I've never tried that specifically - aside from trying to avoid using JPEGs altogether - I don't see it_ Compressing a JPEG any further makes no sense_

And now with the addition of an MP3 Compression - again - this baffles the mind_ I mean I understand the difference between a compressed AAC file and a compressed MP3 file...I may have to go read up on this_

But the bad thing about that is that Aladdin Systems [back when they were around] never really had good documentation of their products and trying to translate half of what the manuals were talking about to plain english was a bitch_

And who the f*** is Smith Micro anyway ?

UberFu

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 2002

0

not if i can help it

10/10, 11:09am reply

if they actually offered something useful, i would consider upgrading. this doesn't sound worthwhile.

and Stuffit Archive Manager? HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT. keep track of every single Stuffit file on my entire system? please don't.

stainboy

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2005

0

@darkvader

10/10, 11:14am reply

Download The Unarchiver (http://wakaba.c3.cx/s/apps/unarchiver.html) and kick StuffIt Expander to the curb, too.

sputschic

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2007

0

Multi-CPU?

10/10, 11:26am reply

If 12 is multi-cpu aware in EVERY instance of their application I'll buy it.

migs647

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2005

0

Stoopid

10/10, 01:04pm reply

Using Stuffit is just plain stoopid. The days of the floppy are long gone.

gskibum3

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2006

0

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