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Tips on using the iTunes Music Store Weblogger Tim Jarrett points to some good resources with Tips on the iTunes store.
Now Up-to-Date gets Address Book compatibility Now Up-to-Date & Contact gets OS X Address Book compatibility - Now Software today announced that it has added integration with Apple's Mac OS X Address Book to Now Up-to-Date & Contact, its popular calendar and contact manager... [MacMinute.com]
Something to think about in the wake of 'victory' in Iraq With military victory in hand and so many people turning thoughts to issues other than the war in Iraq, Christopher Allbritton asks the questions that all Americans should read in Epilogue: A question of truth.
Brent Simmons offers his take on iMusic Brent writes: "I downloaded the new iTunes to check out the new store. No Sex Pistols. Call me skeptical."
Are you buying from the iTunes Music Store? It has been 24 hours since Apple rolled out the new iTunes Music Store. Have you been buying songs? If so, what do you think of the experience so far? Is this a good thing for the Mac? And while we are talking music, does it bother you that the economics of the music store hand another win to the big music labels while offering unclear benefits, if any, for musicians who create the tunes you like? Discuss iTunes Music Store
Why I will still rip songs as MP3s Even though the new iTunes 4 offers the ability for me to rip my music in the AAC format, with its smaller footprint and better sound quality, I am sticking with MP3 for now. Why? Call it paranoia. I don't want to completely buy into Apple's vision of Digital Rights Management that is rolled into the AAC format, and so I am waiting a while before jumping on that bandwagon. Besides, I can play MP3 encoded CDs through my stereo on my DVD player, but there is no way to do that with the AAC files unless I hook up my Mac to the stereo. I like portability... Discuss sticking with MP3 for now
Palm Desktop updated with new Droplet feature Palm Desktop 4.1 is an update to the organizer program for both Mac OS X and Classic operating systems that will work with the Tungsten series, Zire series, i700 series, m500 series, m100 series, VII series, V series, III series, and PalmPilot PDAs. In addition to updating the synchronization functions of the program, Palm has also added a new Send to Handheld Droplet function that lets users send photos and audio files to their PDA.
iView Media and iView MediaPro iView Media is a lite version of the professional digital media management software from iView Multimedia. iView Media 1.2 sells for $29.95 and it allows users to work with catalogs, just as users of the full iView Media Pro 1.5.7 can. But the pro version offers more automation options as well as backup and other capabailities that go above and beyond the lite version. iView MediaPro is $90.
QuickTime 6.2 is available Apple: QuickTime 6.2 - Apple's new QuickTime 6.2 for Mac OS X is available now for downloading. It extends MPEG-4 (AAC) support from iTunes to other applications and enhances AAC-encoding in the Pro version. [MacInTouch]
$9.90 for a CD...is this enough of a break? In initial testing of iTunes 4 and the new iTunes Music Store, I am struck with one big realization. While the price of just $0.99 per song downloaded seems like a good way to buy single songs, I am not so convinced that the price of $9.90 for a full album is enough of a price break on digital music when you consider that many CDs can be purchased for $13 to $19. Is a $3 to $9 price break enough to make this service a real deal for music consumers? Discuss Is the price break big enough?
iTunes 4 now available for download Apple has updated its iTunes page with information about and a download link to grab iTunes 4...
Apple's music announcements Apple is in the midst of announcing details of its new music-related services and products right now, and what has leaked out so far includes a new line of iPods available in 10-, 15-and 30-GB sizes that have been redesigned with the FireWire jack on the bottom of the pod to allow it to work with a new docking station.
The other big news so far is the arrival of iTunes 4, with new AAC support, Rendezvous, the ability to back up music to DVDR.... And then comes the expected new music service announcement:
The questions that immediately come to mind with this announcement are many, including: Should I upgrade to iTunes 4? And if I upgrade will I face limits on burning my own music to CD? I still need to dig into the details, but if that is the case, you may want to think twice before jumping at this new offer. Stay tuned... Discuss Apple's music overhaul
Hydra collaborative editor catching on Writing on his ETech weblog on the O'Reilly Networks site, Robert Kaye digs into how Hydra, the collaborative text editor, works in a conference environment: The Hydra collaborative editor at work.
Here comes the buzz, and music Later this morning Apple will announce its new digital music service, and the buzz around the pending announcement is monumental. Here is a collection of pre-announcement articles:
Butterflies and birds and flowers
This was another weekend spent on the road, with a trip to Grays Harbor to sell books at a shorebird festival and then a sunshine-filled day of being immersed in nature near Olympia, Washington today. Today was the highlight for me, as I saw five butterfly species on my first real day of butterfly observation this year. And better yet, the butterfly in the photo above, a Two-banded Checkered Skipper seen at the Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve and just a few miles from where I grew up, was a new butterfly for me. Stunning! In all, in about six hours of walking and watching nature today we saw 32 bird species, turtles, two snake species, chipmunks, and tons of wildflowers. We also saw a sixth butterfly species that may have been an even better find than the butterfly in the shot above - an endangered Mardon Skipper... Discuss birds and butterflies
Massage your TiBook for better Wi-Fi OK, it may sound crazy, but if you are interested in improving the AirPort range on your TiBook, it may be worthwhile to read this post on the Ars Technica site. It could be worth a try...
Giles Turnbull looks at little known shareware gems Freeware Gems for Mac OS X- Here's a collection of lesser-known freeware gems available for Mac OS X. We're talking about neat little apps that you might not have heard of, but that can do the job just as well as better-known (and much more expensive) varieties without you having to pay a penny for them. [O'Reilly MacDevCenter.com]
The woods are a shakin' Overnight and then again within the last few hours the Olympic Peninsula area, alongside Hood Canal on the eastern side of the mountain range that separates the Puget Basin from the coast of Washington, has been shaken by a couple of earthquakes. The first was at 3:02 a.m. PST, a 4.8 at a depth of almost 32 miles. The follow up this morning was just a 2.9, and I haven't felt either of them. The real interest in this quake is that it seems to fall in an area not prone to quakes, it was deep in the region where the Juan de Fuca plate slides underneath the North American plate, and it follows a smaller 3.9 quake in Portland, Ore. yesterday...
Nisus Writer Express public beta Nisus Software has finally released an OS X native version of its word processor in the Nisus Writer Express Public Beta. I'll be downloading the program today! Nisus also announced pricing for the updated writing tool at $59.95, or $34.95 for licensed users of Nisus Writer 6.0 and above. I'll have to go dig through my other older PowerBooks to see if I actually own a license to 6.0. It has been that long since I last used Nisus... Discuss Nisus Writer Express
Newspaper fires well-known columnist, Henry Norr Writing on Scripting News, Dave Winer notes: The Register reports that the Chronicle has fired tech columnist Henry Norr. I've known Henry for 20 years. An exceptionally intelligent and honest analyst. What a loss for the Chronicle and the tech industry. [Scripting News]
You break it, you pay for it, even if you didn't John Manzione is not sure he is one of Apple's biggest fans any more, and I would bet any other owner of a new PowerBook that pretty much self-destructed when it was opened one morning would be on more of a rampage than Manzione. If you read Apple says NO to shattered PowerBook screen - an update, be sure to read the comments at the end of the article. There are some great sanctimonious comments from Mac addicts who won't miss a chance to kick a guy when he is down...
Congrats to NetNewsWire and Spring! Brent Simmons, head of Ranchero Software and creator of NetNewsWire, and Robb Beal, president of UserCreations and creator of Spring, took first and second place respectively in O'Reilly's Mac OS X Innovators Contest! I have written about both of these apps over the months in Mac Net Journal, and I rely on NetNewsWire as not only a great way to keep in touch with technology developments and Mac news but over the last month it has been a great resource for alternative news about the war in Iraq, SARS, the follow up to the disintegration of the Columbia space shuttle, and many other big breaking news stories.
AirPort Software 3.0.4 offered as well Apple takes another step to try and solve networking problems for bleeding edge AirPort Extreme users with tonight's update to AirPort Software 3.0.4:
The update, available through the Software Update panel in System Preferences, weighs in at 5.8 MB and as usual with Apple's updates to anything related to the system, this upgrade requires a restart... Discuss AirPort Software 3.0.4
AppleWorks 6.2.7 updater released As expected, Apple released an update to AppleWorks 6.2.7, bringing a number of small fixes to the flagship productivity application. The 16 MB update offers the following enhancements, as noted on Apple's Web site:
I have downloaded and started using the new version, and as would be expected with a small incremental release like this, AW 6.2.7 is mostly a behind-the-scenes upgrade offering much-needed improvements but no big sexy changes to make you want to do cartwheels across your livingroom. If you use AppleWorks, give the update a spin. And let's talk about the update going forward... Discuss AppleWorks 6.2.7
An interesting mano-a-mano software shootout MacSlash: MYOB vs. QuickBooks. Check out the discussion and weigh in with your comments...
A way to make even more money on old AirPort gear It appears that those looking to upgrade to new Wi-Fi gear on their Macs have even more options than those mentioned yesterday. BaseStationRepair.com offers users up to $40 for 802.11b AirPort cards and up to $50 for even non-working graphite base stations. Details are available at the company's Web site...
FileMaker to Keynote tool In the FileMaker XSLT Library section of the FileMaker Web site is the new free FileMaker to Keynote tool that lets users of the popular database app export data from FileMaker Pro 6 into presentations in Apple's Keynote application. FMP users may find the other free tools offered on this FileMaker page to be of interest, since they offer capabilities like exporting from FMP to RSS or PDF, among other formats...
Notable software updates There have been a slew of software releases and updates over the last day. Here are some highlights:
Boswell 3.1 brings clipping storehouse to Mac OS X Boswell 3.1 is the first version of the text clipping storage program that runs natively under Mac OS X. The $99.95 application serves as an information storehouse, where users can place clippings and refer back to them later, but what is unique about Boswell is that once you put text into the program you cannot take it out, accidentally or otherwise. You can search the database, filter the database, but once something goes in, it isn't coming out. Boswell is about access.
MacWireless offers AirPort exchange deal MacWireless has announced a new exchange program that could be just the ticket for Titanium PowerBook owners who are frustrated by the limited wireless range of their AirPort cards. The deal: Exchange your AirPort card for $25 off on a 100-milliwatt MacWireless 802.11b PC Card. Check the MacWireless site for more details... Update: Backup Brain offers another good tip for Titanium PowerBook users, using a Linksys PC card along with a free hack to get 802.11g support as well as 802.11b on your TiBook...
Digging deeper into idea management software While starting work on a project involving Tinderbox, the idea manager, text storage, and organizing tool that I use to manage Mac Net Journal, I am also noting developments with other similar programs. Matt Neuburg writes in TidBITS today that people should Take Note of NoteTaker, the information management tool from AquaMinds. Meanwhile, a number of MNJ readers commented about NoteBook, the program from Circus Ponies Software that is also a descendant of the NeXT application called NoteBook. If information management is something that interests you, from simple storage of text clippings and ideas to project management and even Web site content management, each of these programs could be interesting and worth taking the time to check out. My advice to people interested in this kind of complex software is that you look at each program, consider what it is that you want to do or accomplish, and then test drive the programs to see which best fits your needs and work style. Each program has its strengths and the only way to get a real feel for how one program will work for you is to dig in and experiment. As an aside, some may ask why I choose Tinderbox over the other options. The answer is pretty simple. It is the only information management program that will let me create a dynamic resource like Mac Net Journal, with its highly customizable ways to use templates to export to HTML and its universally accessible storage format of XML... Discuss information management
Apple revs the iBook with higher speed but no Extreme Overnight Apple revised the iBook offering with a 900 MHz G3 processor and larger hard drives, but the revision noticably leaves the 12-inch and 14-inch iBooks without access to the new AirPort Extreme networking hardware offered on the new G4 PowerBooks.
An AppleWorks updater on the way? eWeek offers details about AppleWorks 6.2.7, an update to the aging lightweight office suite from Apple that it claims is due by Wednesday. I mention this here since it looks like this is more than a rumor this time around, since the AppleWorks Web site has been updated with the new version number....
Which Apple software most desperately needs updated? Which of Apple's software is in the greatest need of an update? AppleWorks? iCal? iSync? Stop by the discussion to offer your pick... Which app needs updated?
Things are not all cloudy and gray
It looks like a Puget Sound country spring day outside right now - gray with drizzle falling - but there are definite benefits to this kind of climate, such as the small purple orchid above that Natalie and I saw while doing a native plant walk on a field trip with her class from the Tahoma Audubon Society. We saw and heard a lot of birds too, but this time I wasn't carrying our spotting scope so I didn't get any close up bird shots during the six-hour walking trip...
A follow up on the Command-click 'bug" in Safari In the discussion following my post from last week about what I thought was a bug in the way Comand-clicking on a folder works in the new Safari beta (Beware Command-clicking folders in Safari from April 16), a number of people said that you could indeed go back to previously opened tabs if you accidentally Command-clicked on a folder and wiped out the tabs you were looking at prior to the Command-click. Safari didn't appear to be working this way for me, but after digging around a little I figured out why. You can indeed go back to the previous tab arrangement, but using a keyboard shortcut such as Command-left arrow or Command-[ will not do the trick for you. You have to mouse up and use the Back icon in order to get the behavior you would expect from Safari. I would still call this a bug since the behavior is different than a user would expect. In other cases using a keyboard shortcut or the Back button each give the same results, so I am not sure why this case is different. Hopefully the Apple developers get this working consistently in a future version... Discuss Safari shortcuts
A useful note for users of Wacom tablets Wacom has released an upgraded driver for users of Mac OS X 10.1.5 and higher. The new driver 4.76-3 offers support for all USB connected tablets, including the Intuos, Graphire, PenPartner, and the interactive Pen Displays Clintiq series. Notably, the driver supports use under OS X and Classic applications.
Snapz Pro X 1.0.7 update released Ambrosia Software has revved up its professional screen capture tool Snapz Pro X to version 1.0.7, bringing what it calls "low-impact movie capturing" along with better compatibility with X11 applications and a host of bug fixes. This update is free for current license holders. SnapzPro X is a $29 application, and it costs $49 with the added movie capture capabilities.
How to fix spell checking in iChat Permanently enable spell check in iChat - I love the integrated spell checker in OS X, and I discovered the other day that it's possible to permanently enable spell checking in iChat! Just open iChat and double click on a buddy's name to open an IM window... [Mac OS X Hints]
A music related special event with Apple on April 28 Apple To Hold Special Event April 28
Donate to support Mac Net Journal Mac Net Journal is a publication supported by readers who donate to help defray the costs of producing the site and paying the Web hosting fees. If you find MNJ a useful site, please choose one of the donation links on the left side of the MNJ page to help keep this site alive. Thanks.
So, your Mac is out for repairs. Now what? Dan Knight attacks the problem in a new column on Low End Mac: How to survive while your Mac is gone for repair...
An examination of AppleCare and its real worth In the wake of his damaged 17-inch PowerBook G4 story earlier this week, MacNetv2's John Manzione follows up with AppleCare: Price gouging or just a scam? You decide. The title of the article is provocative, but it does make some good points about what AppleCare is and what it isn't. On the other hand, having AppleCare on what is now my wife's Pismo PowerBook covered two major problems with the LCD, replacement of a battery, and a couple of other small repairs. In that case, the $349 investment in AppleCare covered what I would estimate was well over $1,000 in repairs... Discuss Is AppleCare worth the cost?
Keynote themes available Jumsoft releases Keynote Themes Package 2.0
Apple admits there is a problem with Mac OS X 10.2.5 Apple has released a Knowledge Base article detailing steps people can take to stop the series of kernel panics that they may be seeing after updating to Mac OS X 10.2.5. In short, disconnect your USB hub and wait for Apple to fix the OS...
New Virex release fixes problems with Fink Virex 7.2.1 resolves Fink conflict
A profitable second quarter for Apple Laptop Sales Lift Apple Earnings
Bellevue Apple Store set for a May opening Cydney Gillis writes in the King County Journal about the pending opening of an Apple Store at Bellevue Square in Washington, just an hour or so north of my Mac Net Journal offices...
Martian Technologies NetDrive looks promising How does having a wireless file server with 120 GB of file storage and built in USB printer sharing sound? Martian Technologies' NetDrive is just such a device, and it may be the easiest way to store and share MP3s, photos, and any other data you can come up with for easy access. Best of all, it works with Mac OS X. Glenn Fleishman offers a deeper look at the NetDrive on the Apple AirPort Weblog...
Beware Command-clicking folders in Safari When is a feature also a bug? I find myself asking that question this morning after testing a tip from an MNJ reader that you can Command-click on a folder in the Bookmark bar of the new Safari beta to open all of the links in that folder in a series of tabs. The tip works great! But beware Command-clicking on a folder in your Bookmark bar if you already have a few tabs open. If you do this, all of the links in your folder will open in Safari as advertised, but they will wipe out whatever tabs you already had open. Let's just say that I won't be making this mistake again... Discuss Safari shortcuts
Macintouch available in RSS One of the most useful Mac sites on the Net, Macintouch, is offerring its content through RSS, meaning it can be read in NetNewsWire and other newsreaders, but the feed comes with an understandable caveat:
This note reminds me of changes I have made in my use of NetNewsWire recently. I used to have NNW download new info every 30 minutes, but since I have been hearing rumblings from other Internet sites and weblogs that they are having trouble with the barrages of hits coming from newsreaders, I have backed off to download my 100-plus newsfeeds hourly... Discuss RSS restraint
A cautionary tale about the 17-inch PowerBook G4 Writing on MacNETv2, John Manzione offers a sad tale about his 17-inch PowerBook G4 that may strike fear into the hearts of other owners of the huge laptop:
Read about how John's PowerBook screen shattered and about how Apple responded to his request for warrantee repairs in: PowerBook 17 screen cracks. How is this my fault? Discuss 17-inch PowerBook G4 problems
AppleScripts for working with Safari Apple: Safari Beta II Script Collection
Happy 13th, TidBITS Congratulations are in order for Adam Engst and the crew that produces the excellent TidBITS publication. This is the 13th anniversary of the publication...
In other browser news While I find myself using the new version of Apple's Safari browser as my default browser right now, I am still using Mozilla and the latest sneaky peek version of OmniWeb, which was just bumped up to OW 4.5sp5 this morning. Of the three main browsers I use, OmniWeb is showing the most drastic improvements. It is nearly as fast as Safari now and although it has yet to roll in the new tabbed browsing capabilities that were made official in Safari yesterday, OmniWeb still offers some of the best text rendering and customization of the browsing experience of all of the OS X browsers. So if OmniWeb is so great, why am I using Safari as my main browser today? Simple. Tabs and pop-up blocking. The folks at The Omni Group are still working on rolling their own pop-up blocking capabilities back into the sneaky peek versions of their browser. Once they have that working then the only missing piece will be tabbed browsing, which as I understand may not make it into OW 4.5... I should also note that I had to add Internet Explorer 5.2 back to my Dock to do some work I started recently on the Matchmaker.com Web site. Just when it looked like I could get rid of IE all together after losing my contract work on Lycos.com, yet another work project with a Terra Lycos project forces me to use IE yet again...
Talk about the update to Mac OS X Server 10.2.5 MacSlash has a discussion underway about the new update to Mac OS X Server 10.2.5, which is available to server users through the Software Update panel. The update offers a host of fixes and it sounds like a must-have for those running Apple's premier server software.
The Omni Group updates OmniGraffle, adds Pro version OmniGraffle 3.0 now comes in two flavors - the standard version and an enhanced and thus more spendy Pro version. OmniGraffle 3.0 adds "smart guides" to the drawing and diagramming application along with enhanced toolbars, better caching, and improved AppleScript support. OmniGraffle 3.0 Professional adds the ability to import multi=page Visio 2002 files as well as multi-page document support, a Presentation Mode, and ColorSync workflow and proofing support. OminGraffle 3.0 remains a $69.95 application while the new Pro version is $119.95. Upgrades from previous versions are $24.95 for the standard version and $59.95 for the Pro version.
MaxiMice offers an alternate way of scrolling and clicking MaxiMice 1.0 offers something its makers at Catchy Software call "Zero click computing." The small $10 shareware application takes the clicks out of scrolling windows by scrolling the window when you move the mouse pointer near the edge of the window. The closer you move the pointer to the edge of the window, the faster the content scrolls past. Call it a poor person's scroll wheel, or if you suffer from RSI, a welcome break...
Open source Cocoa code snippets Karelia Software's Cocoa Open Source
Tips for adding wireless to an old PowerBook Derek Miller offers a great resource for anyone with questions about how to add Wi-Fi capabilities to an older PowerBook.
Audio Hijack Pro updated Audio Hijack Pro 1.1 offers improved MP3 recording and a host of bug fixes to the $30 audio recording and enhancement program from Rogue Amoeba Software. The company also announced the release of some freeware goodies in the Freebies section of its Web site, including LineIn for recording of sounds through a mic or another device plugged into your Sound in port, and SoundSource - a tool for switching the audio input and outpout sources with a single click.
Open in Tabs in Safari Public Beta 2 A quick tip for Safari Public Beta 2: If you want to open a series of URLs in a folder of bookmarks accessible from your bookmarks bar, Control-click on the folder name and choose Open in Tabs. There is also an Open in Tabs option at the bottom of the pulldown menus for folders of bookmarks in your bookmarks bar... Are you finding other undocumented shortcuts and tips for using the new version of Safari? If so, you can share them here: Discuss Safari shortcuts
Derrick Story on the Safari Beta 2 Derrick Story offers his perspective on the new Safari Beta 2 in an article on the MacDevCenter. His favorite new features: Autofill of forms and privacy reset...
How does the 12-inch PowerBook G4 measure up with pros? Professional photographers writing on a discussion on the SportsShooter.com Web site seem to like the Little AlBook. Among those writing on the discussion are photogs covering the war in Iraq...
Safari Public Beta 2 released Apple finally released a new public beta version of its Safari Web browser this morning, bringing tabbed browsing, better standards compatibility, improved AppleScript support and autofill forms and passwords. It looks like it is time to test another browser! Discuss Safari Public Beta 2
QuickTopic grows up Giles Turnbull offers an interesting interview with Steve Yost, the creator of the QuickTopic discussion platform that I use on Mac Net Journal...
Fire chat client updated to 0.32.d The excellent multi-protocol Fire chat client that works with AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo!, Jabber, and IRC has been updated with a number of minor bug fixes in version 0.32.d.
iPhoto Diet 2.0 iPhoto Diet 2.0
Running Virtual PC 6 on a 12-inch PowerBook G4 Columnist Mike Wendland writes: Virtual PC 6 on a 12-inch PowerBook G4 is S-L-O-W and sluggish. That's how Virtual PC 6 runs on my 12-in PowerBook G4, even after adding a 512 MB RAM module ($95 from MacSolutions thanks to a tip from a previous comment poster named Mike). The big reason for the slowdown is almost certainly due to the lack of Level 3 cache, the most serious limitation of the G4 12-incher in my view. Still, the Windows XP Professional version I installed does indeed work, once it boots up - a process that takes almost two minutes. I haven't had a lot of time to fully experiment with it. [Mac-Mike.com]
A software developer responds to the call for free software Writing on the Unsanity weblog, Brian offers a response to recent calls for software developers to Gimme Free Stuff!
Impression 1.1 backup program Impression 1.1
Get your free fonts Install free fonts from an iTunes AppleScript package
Kudos to The Omni Group I am sure a lot of people doubted my sanity when I noted in January, in the wake of the arrival of Apple's Safari browser, that I had just paid for a license to The Omni Group's OmniWeb browser. I made the purchase to support further development of a third-party browser in a Mac OS X market that seemed destined to be dominated by Apple-spawned iApps and the like. In the last few months I have barely used OmniWeb, but now that there is a third new sneaky peek version of OW 4.5 that paid license holders can help test, I am using OmniWeb a lot more. It is nearly as speedy as Safari, its text rendering saw major improvements in this new sneaky peek, it actually works with my bank's online banking system, and while there is still room for improvement, it has generally made a quantum leap over the last few days. That was a shareware fee well worth the $29.95 admission price...
The reality of improved phone support in OS X 10.2.5 A number of people are commenting on different Web sites that the touted improved support for a pair of mobile phones in Mac OS X 10.2.5 actually doesn't live up the hype. MNJ reader Jonathan offers the following:
Thanks for the real-world news, Jonathan. And if any owners of the Nokia mobile phone mentioned to have better support in this new version of OS X can add that perspective then I am sure that many people would be grateful... Discuss Bluetooth improvements in Mac OS X 10.2.5
Apache Web serving with Mac OS X, Part II The MacDevCenter has a follow up article in its series about Apache Web serving with Mac OS X...
More on Mac OS X 10.2.5 Macintouch has another useful reader report underway about Mac OS X 10.2.5, including notes from some people who are seeing problems after updating their machines...
ImageWell 1.0 easily resizes images Imagewell looks like a useful addition to the wealth of image editing tools for Mac OS X. It offers an easy way to resize and add labels or annotations to photos and ready them for emailing, posting to the Web, and more...
Damien Barrett's favorite 10.2.5 fixes My favorite things about the Mac OS X 10.2.5 updater released today: 1) bluetooth support for the Sony Ericsson P800 (guess which phone I'm going to buy next). :) 2) fixed the date/time reset bug... [Mr. Barrett]
Mac OS X 10.2.5 now available Apple has indeed released the updater for Mac OS X 10.2.5 this afternoon in a 39.9MB download available through the Software Update panel in the System Preferences application. Here are the notes included with the download:
I am installing the update now and will note any major observations. Let's talk about how the update is going for you... Discuss Mac OS X 10.2.5
Making iChat play nice with Apple's firewall Allow iChat to work through Apple's Firewall - I have not understood why people were not able to use iChat's Rendezvous mode to communicate with me. People stated they sent me a message, but I would never receive it. Turns out it was, in fact, my Apple built-in firewall... [Mac OS X Hints]
Just how safe is Bluetooth? O'Grady's PowerPage raises questions about the wisdom of turning on Bluetooth networking of any kind while in a public place, where it could be easy for someone to snoop on your machine: Bluetooth can bite. I am not so sure the situation is as dire as it is portrayed in the PowerPage article. In the preference panel for Bluetooth on my 12-inch PowerBook G4 I can opt to require authentication of any device trying to connect to my machine, and I can even use encryption to ensure that the password for authenticating is protected. And in another tab of the Bluetooth preferences I have to enable a preference to allow other machines to browse files on my computer. And so, unless these preferences don't work as advertised, Bluetooth should be relatively safe... Discuss Bluetooth safety
What is your content ratio? John Robb from Userland Software points to an interesting page this morning:
When you run your Web site through this page it will give you an idea of how much real content or text you have on your site, as weighed against canned items like navigational links. The numbers are interesting - Mac Net Journal weighed in at around 51% content - but I think the numbers are a big misleading. If I understand the algorithm being used here correctly, the more navigational and informational links I have on the left hand side of each MNJ page, the lower my content percentage would be. Also, the more posts I would display on the front page of MNJ, the higher the content percentage would be. While this is an interesting exercise, what I would really be interested in when it comes to many weblogs, including Mac Net Journal, is the percentage or original content rather than republished content from other sites or blogs. I put more weight on weblogs that are sources than those that just republish a lot of items, and although I cannot always live up to the high standards I would like with MNJ, I try to make this site more of a source than a mouthpiece... Discuss original content
Mac OS X 10.2.5 coming soon? The Apple Store is now selling a $19.95 CD for installing Mac OS X 10.2.5, and this is sure to signal the imminent release of a software update, but at the time of this writing, after many checks of my Software Update panel in System Preferences, the update doesn't appear to be available for downloading just yet. Stay tuned, and remember that often Apple offers software updates on Fridays...
The implications of a new OmniWeb Writing on MacNightOwl, Gene Steinberg offers perspective on what the arrival of the sneaky peek versions of OmniWeb 4.5 mean for the larger browser wars under Mac OS X... By the way, The Omni Group released a new sneaky peek version of OW 4.5 last night, bringing even more speed improvements and restoring the ability to have continuous spell checking enabled in browser windows.
Menu Master lets you change shortcut keys Menu Master 1.0 is another innovative utility from Unsanity. This $10 program lets you change or remove menu shortcuts in any OS X application...
Copycat software Over the last few weeks, and especially in the last few days, I have noticed a sharp increase in the number of copycat software applications being released for Mac OS X. While there is nothing wrong with the idea that a number of developers are working on the same general software idea at the same time, some of these programs beg the question of what is going on. In at least one case a much less capable imitator application made its appearance this week, but the imitator carries a name that could fool software buyers to accidentally purchase a program that is different than what they intended to purchase, and worse yet, the copycat application has fewer features and costs $20 more. I post this note as a simple word of caution for Mac OS X users. Weigh your software buying options carefully and be on the lookout for imitators. Choice is a good thing, but beware of programs that use slick Web sites and marketing to tout features that copy competitor applications but that simply don't live up to the hype. Discuss copycat software
iEdit works with OS 9.x, OS X, Windows After seeing what the collaborative editing program Hydra can do for users of Mac OS X 10.2, the folks at Quik Software have rolled out iEdit, a collaborative editing program that works on Mac OS 9.x and earlier, Mac OS X, and Windows. I post this even though I am skeptical. Check out the claims that iEdit improves on Hydra and then the response to a question about this in the forums for iEdit. If you try iEdit, offer some comments about how it compares to Hydra... Discuss iEdit
Donate to support Mac Net Journal Now more than ever Mac Net Journal relies upon the donations from readers to keep the site alive and thriving. I have yet to mention it on the pages of MNJ, but a couple of weeks ago I was notified that my work with Lycos.com was about to end, bringing an end to my most consistent income source over the last few years. In the wake of this news, I am relying on donations to help make it possible to maintain and grow MNJ. If you find this site useful, consider clicking one of the links to the left to donate or email me to talk about sponsoring Mac Net Journal. Discuss donations
OmniWeb 4.2 released, testing for 4.5 begins The Omni Group released an update to its OmniWeb browser today, bringing the official release to version 4.2, but the big news is that work is underway on OmniWeb 4.5 and registered users of OW can start using sneaky peek versions of OW 4.5 today. OmniWeb 4.2 fixes a number of bugs and marks progress in standards compliance for the browser. Release notes are available. Meanwhile The Omni Group announced that work is underway now. OW 4.5 will be the first version to incorporate the open source WebCore and JavaScriptCore frameworks from Apple, which will mean much better standards compliance for working with CSS, HTML, XHTML, and JavaScript. The Omni Group expects to have OW 4.5 available as a free upgrade for OW 4.x license holders later this quarter. I have downloaded and am using OW 4.5sp1 right now and there are some definite improvements in this release that can only be run by those who have paid for a license for OmniWeb. It is not as fast as Safari at this point, but it should be interesting to see how the frameworks from Safari fit into the high-quality vision that The Omni Group holds for OmniWeb... Discuss OmniWeb 4.2 and 4.5
eMac prices drop eMac drops below $700
Unlocking the hidden features of Disk Copy Apple's Ken Bereskin is back to blogging and today he offers some tips about hidden features in Disk Copy:
It looks like Bereskin's blog will be a useful resource for insider tips once again!
A return to Personal Organizer After trying to spend the last month using Apple's aging iCal program, today I decided I couldn't take it any more. I want to be able to manage memos and other text with my Palm Vx and since I have been suffering from hotsyncing problems when using the even more aged Palm Desktop app, then today I switched back to the much more capable Personal Organizer program from Chronos. Enough waiting for Apple, to make iCal more than a weak calendar application that is far from capable of information management. I switched from using Personal Organizer last month when I received my 12-inch PowerBook G4. I was curious how well iCal would work in an extended trial and I also was tired of the sometimes awkward user interface offered by Personal Organizer. But the deal killer for me trying to use iCal is the inability to properly associate notes with events, the awkwardness of the iCal user interface, and the inability of iCal to work with memos, which I use to store information and shuttle text from my Palm to my laptop... Discuss iCal doesn't measure up
OmniOutliner beta offers new features OmniOutliner 2.2.1b1 improves the integration with Apple's Keynote application, offers fixes in spell checking and find/replace actions, and offers more options for sorting. The beta is available for download and there are also release notes available.
External AirPort antennas for PowerBooks External PowerBook G4 Antennas Boost AirPort Reception
Transfering the whiterabbits.com domain name A quick site note: I don't anticipate any problems, but there is always the chance that the move I just made to move my whiterabbits.com domain name from under Network Solutions to the inexpensive godaddy.com service could cause a break on domain service later today or tomorrow. It is a pain to move from one domain servicing company to another, saving more than $20 makes the hassle worth it right now...
iData Pro X as a digital shoebox Writing in today's TidBITS, Matt Neuberg takes an interesting look at using iData Pro X 1.0.5 as a "digital shoebox."
Scripteur enables easy sharing of data across a LAN A server for sharing data on your LAN
Circus Ponies NoteBook: A NoteTaker look alike... Circus Ponies NoteBook is a $99.95 outlining and information management app that looks very familiar. Compare the features to those offered by AquaMinds' NoteTaker 2003 - a spiral notebook interface, tabs along the right side, clipping service, export to XML - and it is hard to differentiate the two applications. Interesting... The reason for this is spelled out in the Circus Ponies NoteBook FAQ:
I have to wonder why two nearly identical apps are now available in the Mac OS X marketplace though... Discuss NoteTaker 2003 vs. NoteBook
An interesting MacSlash discussion about maintenance apps MacSlash could have an interesting discussion on its hands in Ask MacSlash: What Mac maintenance apps do you run?
TiVo Desktop for OS X TiVo Desktop Allows iTunes, iPhoto Streaming
One alternative for cooling a 12-inch PowerBook G4 An MNJ reader sent an email this morning offering an interesting tip for how he keeps his 12-inch PowerBook G4 cool:
Discuss another way to cool a Little AlBook
More people are asking Apple, where are the updates? I heard a few chuckling and discouraging notes on Friday when I mentioned it is about time for Apple to start releasing updates of Safari and iCal, but I am not the only who thinks that Apple is waiting too long between updates to some of its flagship software:
Maya 5 will bring improvements in 3D rendering Another big visual editing and creation tool was announced over the weekend as Alias|Wavefront said that Maya 5 is due next month with a host of improvements, including better hardware acceleration support.
Bright Goldfinch view kicks off a new week Although it has been cold and rainy for a week here in Puget Sound country, spring is definitely evident. This morning my first real look at the snowball bush next to our bird feeders was shocking, as a bright yellow-and-black male Goldfinch, the state bird of Washington, was sitting in the bush. This is the first time I have seen a Goldfinch in the yard this spring - the first of many yellow and orange and black birds that are sure to make appearances in the coming weeks as the spring songbird migration kicks into high gear! Surely, butterfly season can't be far behind!
1,000 posts later, Tinderbox keeps ticking My first post this morning was the 1,000th post made since I started using Tinderbox to create Mac Net Journal back in early November, 2002. So far this information management software that doubles as a weblog authoring platform has performed wonderfully for me. It is a complex program, deserving a number of articles to explain how to best use it as a weblog authoring system. I haven't had the time to put those articles together yet, though. If you are interested in what Tinderbox has to offer, the best you can do today is to download a trial version and try immersing yourself in the program. Like learning a foreign language, the best way to learn Tinderbox is to live in its culture for a while. Discuss using Tinderbox
A video editing trifecta Apple announced a trio of video editing applications over the weekend - Final Cut Pro 4, DVD Studio Pro 2, and Shake 3. Final Cut Pro 4 is set to ship in June for $999, or $399 for upgrades. DVD Studio Pro 2.0 will ship in August for $499, and anyone buying the current version of DVD Studio Pro 1.5 for $499 can upgrade to the new version for $29.95. Shake 3.0 should ship in June for $4,950 for the OS X version or $9,900 for the Linux version. eWeek sums up the changes in the announced software in Apple Buffs Trio of Pro-Media Apps.
iTunes Controller Sony Ericsson Clicker iTunes Controller 1.2
Rendezvous keeps catching on Rendezvous: Coming To An App Near You!
Apache Web serving with Jaguar Apache Web Serving with Jaguar
Apple consolidating .Mac and Apple ID MacMinute notes: "Apple consolidating .Mac and Apple ID accounts - Apple sent out an email today informing those who have both a .Mac account and an Apple ID that it will unify Web-based account login information on April 10... [MacMinute.com] I haven't received email about this yet, however...
Clipboard Scripts package Clipboard Scripts package announced "Clipboard Scripts" is a package of 20 AppleScripts, which may be used by virtually anyone to become more efficient while performing everyday tasks. Once installed, "Clipboard Scripts" are accessed through Apple's "Script Menu", which is installed with Mac OS X 10.2 and later. By integrating these AppleScripts with the "Script Menu", they may be triggered at any time, from within any application.A 5-script package is available as freeware or the complete package of 20 scripts is available for as little as $5. [AppleScript Info]
Warping 12-inch PowerBook G4s I am reading a post and discussion on Glen Fleishman's site with interest this morning and wondering why others are reporting so many warping problems with their 12-inch PowerBook G4 machines while I have yet to notice any warping at all? It is also interesting that the warping seems to develop over time for people. I haven't noticed any warping here, but I am convinced that this machine has horrible power management problems. So far the best battery life that I get with my machine is around 3 hours, while I read elsewhere that some are getting around 4 hours or more from their batteries... Discuss the Little AlBook at warp speed
How to remove the Bluetooth icon from the menu bar As the owner of one of the new 12-inch PowerBook G4 machines that ships with Bluetooth built in, my machine came with Bluetooth turned on and an icon in the menu bar that allows me to easily turn Bluetooth on and off. This is great, except that at this point I don't have any Bluetooth devices, and running Bluetooth while on battery power can drain the battery faster, so I always have Bluetooth turned off. This morning I figured it was about time to remove that menu item and clear space in what is rapidly becoming a cluttered part of the Mac OS X user interface. Removing the Bluetooth menu bar item is not straightforward. I went to the Bluetooth preferences panel and found the checkbox for showing the menu bar item, but it was grayed out. No amount of clicking would allow me to check the checkbox and remove the menu bar item. The trick in getting it to work? Turn on Bluetooth. With Bluetooth turned on then the grayed-out menu bar preference is accessible, allowing me to click the checkbox and remove the menu bar item for Bluetooth from my crowded menu bar. This is far from intuitive... Update: A couple of comments in the discussion thread remind me that you can also remove the menu bar item by Command-dragging the icon off the menu bar, which makes it go "poof" just like items dragged off of the Dock. I knew this was possible, but I wanted to see how to remove the menu bar icon using the user interface, just as you can do with other items such as the Airport icon, Displays icon, etc. Discuss Bluetooth menu bar icon
While we are talking about software updates... Since I am thinking about software that Apple is woefully behind on updating this morning, an MNJ reader prodded my memory and pointed out that if there is an app that badly needs an update it is iCal rather than Safari. The last release of iCal dates back to January 5, which means we are running up on three months without an update to the program. And since I have been using iCal over the last few weeks I can only agree that this program needs work...
New York Times starts charging for archives A number of people have written over the last day about the move by the New York Times to break direct links to articles in its archives and start charging for access to older materials. I agree with what has been written by Dave Winer and others, but I have another beef with decisions like this. While it is predictable that newspapers would like to make money from old articles, why in the hell is the price for viewing these old articles $2.95? I may consider reading older articles on the Web for $1, but the $2.95 charge is gouging... Discuss NY Times gouging
Create disk images from DVD's for longer playback Mac OS X Hints offers a good tip for how to watch DVDs on a PowerBook without the fear of running out of battery power. How? Create disk images from DVD movies for longer playback.
It's another Friday...will there be a software update? No, I am not starting a rumor or anything of the sort. I am just noting that this is a Friday, that it has been weeks since Apple has updated Safari, and that when Apple rolls out new software it often happens on Fridays. I may also be prodding the folks at Apple a bit. We all know they have pre-release versions of Safari that are being used by a ton of users who grabbed leaked copies. We all know that Safari has nto had an official new beta version since early in February. And we all hope that Apple isn't doing something lame like holding onto any new Safari betas until the Worldwide Developers Conference two months from now in June. We want a new Safari. We want a more dynamic beta testing program. We want to see progress... Discuss update Friday
Studio365-Live for Mac OS X Transform Your Mac Into An Internet Radio Station
QuarkXPress 6 details QuarkXPress 6 Features Revealed
Beyond the Browser Bundle The Beyond the Browser Bundle offers NetNewsWire 1.0 from Ranchero Software, Spring 1.2 from UserCreations and Watson 1.6 from Karelia for a 25% discount at $68. This special bundle is available through April.
A slimmer Mozilla will rise Mozilla slimming down: Open-source Web browser development group Mozilla.org said in a new roadmap released Wednesday that its next build would be based on its Phoenix application -- a smaller, faster version of its own product... [MacMinute.com]
GraphicConverter 4.6 adds image formats, bug fixes GraphicConverter 4.6 adds ECW import and export (Carbon version only), MRC and FITS import, PDF export, better TWAIN compatibility and a ton of other bug fixes and enhancements. If you count on this Swiss Army Knife of graphics applications like I do, grab it now...
What do you call it when... What do you call it when the sun is shining and there is pea-sized hail falling from the sky? If you live in the Pacific Northwest, it's called April, or alternatively, spring...
Apple rolls out a new Apple Remote Desktop Apple Remote Desktop v.1.2 includes powerful new features such as Remote Software Installation and Remote Network Startup Disk. Apple Remote Desktop, the easiest way to manage and support networks of Mac desktops and portables, simplifies desktop administration, enabling classroom teachers and network administrators to maximize the use of their Macs and minimize administration costs. [Apr 2] [Apple Hot News]
Watson creator now has a weblog Noted by Brent Simmons: Watson developer Karelia Software now has a weblog. And an RSS feed, too. [ranchero.com] This will now be the 101st newsfeed in my NetNewsWire app...
Battery tips for PowerBook and iBook users 12 steps to better PowerBook battery life offers some solid tips for getting more juice out of each charge on a PowerBook or iBook. Discuss battery tips
Derrick Story looks at the Canon EOS 10D Derrick Story takes a look at some of the most compelling features of the Canon EOS 10D digital SLR in a story on O'Reilly Network's MacDevCenter: A photographers review of the Canon EOS 10D. With a price of around $1,500, this 6-megapixel camera is a real draw and it has certainly caught my attention... Discuss the Canon EOS 10D
An in-depth analysis of the OS X Finder Writing on ArsTechnica, John Siracusa offers an in-depth analysis and criticism of the Mac OS X Finder. The conclusion is a familiar one for readers of other reviews on the ArsTechnica site: Mac OS X needs to offer management of metadata in order to make the Finder better. Discuss the OS X Finder
Eudora 5.2.1 upgrade released Late yesterday the final release of Eudora 5.2.1 for Mac OS X was released. The new update fixes a wide range of bugs but there are no new major features in this release.
Calling all shareware software developers Independent Mac Shareware Dev. Group
Cronathon 1.6 runs maintenance tasks Cronathon 1.6
A paperless version of wireless book Adam Engst and Glenn Fleishman's The Wireless Networking Starter Kit is now available in an electronic edition at a discount in Acrobat PDF form. The PDF format book is $22, equal to the discounted print edition price.
Hydra 1.0 offers collaborative editing Hydra takes the idea of creating collaborative documents are adds Apple goodness by using Jaguar's Rendezvous features to easily share documents either over a local network or over the Internet. A full-fledged writing environment, the program adds the ability of anyone using the document to type anywhere anytime, to see what others are doing on the document as you use it, and to set separate authorization levels on private documents. The program is available with English and German localizations. This is something I am downloading and looking at right now... Discuss Hydra
New programs take advantage of Rendezvous New Rendezvous Products
High failure rate for 10-Gig iPods? A long-time MNJ reader and supporter writes this morning with a question about the failure rate of 10-gig iPods after his wife has been dealing with the failure of three-out-of-four iPods she has been sent to replace her personalized 10-gig iPod that went wonky.
And so the question is, are these kinds of problems common with the 10-gig iPod? Or is this reader one of the unluckiest iPod users on the planet? Discuss 10-gig iPod problems
A humorous Apple note about 12-inch PB G4 heat I am a big fan of this tiny 12-inch PowerBook G4 that I have been using over the last month, but even the machine's biggest fans will admit that it can be one hot lap warmer. Apple addresses the heat issue in a new Apple Knowledge Base article that offers tips for how to avoid any heat problems: PowerBook G4 (12-inch) feels warm to the touch. Among the tips: Always use the machine on a hard surface (which would rule out using it on your lap), set the processor to run at reduced speed in the Energy Saver settings (making this a less capable PowerBook), or set the hard disk to sleep as often as possible (thereby reducing disk response time). |
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