Mac Product Watch

Vicomsoft's DHCP Server 6.6.1 update adds a resizable status window, the ability to ping an Internet Protocol (IP) address before locking in the configuration, improved routes network handling and an optional remote-administration module. DHCP Server can distribute up to 1,024 unique configurations of any clients that support TCP/IP standards. The whole application costs $90; the optional Remote Administration feature is $30. Updates are $20 each.

SmithMicro Software is distributing Conexs 1.0, software that enables IP phone and chat. In place of phone numbers, Conexs uses e-mail or IP addresses for connections. It's available for download for $10.

Telex Communications Inc. announced its first Mac-compatible Universal Serial Bus (USB) microphones. This is especially good news for iBook users interested in voice-recognition software such as IBM's Via Voice, since the iBook is not equipped with an audio jack. The H-531 Headworn Microphone is, as you'd guess, integrated into a headset and costs $60. The desk-mounted M-560 Super-Directional Microphone goes for $60.

The popular children's entertainment CD-ROM featuring Pajama Sam continues with 'Pajama Sam 3: You Are What You Eat From Your Head to Your Feet'. The series highlights nonviolent game play and encourages learning. It's available for $25.

Can you smell the excitement? Netscape, a division of America Online, released Preview Release 1 of Netscape 6, the company's next-generation Web browser based on the long-anticipated Gecko rendering engine. The new browser also features a new interface, an open-source code base and other improvements. This is obviously an early version, however, and there are remnants of previous product strategies still evident: At certain points of the installation process, for example, the program refers to the new "Version 5."

In addition to officially (and finally) releasing the Mac OS 9.0.4 update, Apple has made available DVD Player 2.2, which should fix stuttering problems in playback, and QuickTime 4.1.1, for which Apple supplies no information. You might want to delay downloading the updater until the company provides info on what, exactly, it does.

Meanwhile, open-source enthusiasts in the Apple camp can rejoice over the arrival of Darwin 1.0, the FreeBSD- and Mach 3.0-based code that also comprises the core of Apple's forthcoming commercial Mac OS X release. Darwin 1.0 supports the Kernel Extension Developer Kit (KDK) for developing drivers and loadable modules and allows developers to work on PowerPC and Intel systems.

Canon, which has not been known for making cross-platform products, has announced the Universal Serial Bus-based, Mac-compatible BJC-2100 Bubble Jet printer. The compact printer, which retails for $100, offers four-color printing as well as photo-realistic output with an optional Photo Ink cartridge. The BJC-2100 can also function as a scanner with an optional scanner cartridge, which replaces one of the ink heads.

Videonics Inc. has released its USB-based CommandPost media application controller. The software and hardware package includes button, T-bar, joystick and jog/shuttle controls for working with applications such as iMovie, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, Digital Origin EditDV and others. It will cost $200.

Not showing any sign of slowing down, Adobe announced "target="_blank" class="c-regularLink" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">GoLive 5.0 and "target="_blank" class="c-regularLink" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Illustrator 9.0 at this week's Internet World in Los Angeles. The GoLive Web-building application gains better HTML code handling, an improved multimedia editor, complete support for W3C protocols (that's better than most browsers), better integration with Adobe's other tools and more. The new version is expected to ship in June 2000; customers who purchase GoLive 4 after April 4 will be able to upgrade for the price of shipping. Illustrator 9 features Flash and SVG support, instant drop shadows and glows, long-awaited transparency features, and more. When the product ships in June, current users will be able to upgrade for $150; full price will be $400.

Do you talk to your Mac? Does it listen? Macsense has released its iParrott speech-recognition headset, complete with a built-in "iParrott Translator" that filters out background noise. The $50 headset works with MacSpeech and IBM's Viavoice dictation software.

More ways to tick off the MPAA: Casady & Greene announced SoundJam MP Plus 2.0 and SoundJam MP Free 2.0. The former is an audio player and recorder with new features such as the ability to play and record from sound input, improved encoding speed and quality, karaoke (lord help us all), a playlist composer, and more. It's $40 for new users; current owners can update for free. The Free version is, as you'd expect, free. It offers the Plus version's features for 14 days and then reverts to being exclusively an MP3 player.

Storage specialist Fantom Drives announced a new "target="_blank" class="c-regularLink" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">FireWire DVDS/DAT tape drive. Tape drives are usually used for backing up large amounts of data and archiving, rather than as a supplemental hard drive. The drive is available immediately for $775, or for $899 with Dantz's Retrospect software.

New for FileMaker Pro users is Troi Automatisering's "target="_blank" class="c-regularLink" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Troi File Plug-in 20, a plug-in for the database application that allows the database to access and create files stored anywhere and of any type on the host computer. New to Version 2.0 is the ability to specify the initial folder of a search and other features. The new version is $39 per user; upgrades begin at $19 per user.

Cognitive Concepts has released "target="_blank" class="c-regularLink" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Earobics 1, a game-style language-instruction kit that focuses on teaching children and adults language comprehension. The Home version costs $60; a Clinician pack is $300.

Also for children is Etchelon's Macdoodle, a $7 shareware painting program. It includes 26 pictures to color and offers 260 suggestions through voice synthesis.

Is there no end to the list of games coming to the Mac? Feral Interactive, a UK-based developer, announced that it is porting Bullfrog Productions Ltd.'s "target="_blank" class="c-regularLink" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">"Theme Park World" (also known as "Sim Theme Park"). The game allows you to design, build and manage your own theme park and even roam the grounds in 3-D. No release date or pricing has been set.

Wondered what to do with your old Jaz drive since you upgraded to a SCSI-free Power Mac G3 or G4? Iomega Corp. has released a SCSI-to-USB adapter for both its 1GB and 2GB Jaz drives. The adapter costs $80 and supports Mac OS 8.5.1 to Mac OS 9, as well as Windows 95/98 and NT. Iomega also announced plans to develop a similarly purposed FireWire adapter.

Can't get enough of that real-time chat? Yahoo released its Yahoo! Messenger 3.0 instant-chat application. New to this time-sink are voice-chat capabilities, the ability to chat with other users who are browsing the same Web page and "tighter integration" with Yahoo's other products.

And if you're afraid something might have happened in the world without your notice, Aladdin Systems' announcement of its MacHeadlines Pro and Lite 1.9.1 Net-based news tickers will calm your soul. Both install a ticker on your Mac's screen, continually updating news info from online sources. The Lite version is free for download at Aladdin's site; the Pro version, available for $20, includes both preset and personalized Favorites.

Club Photo Inc. has released Version 1.5 of its Album to Go utility for sharing photos between Macs and Palm Computing's Palm III and Palm IIIc PDAs.

Omnis Technology Corp. announced that Version 2.4 of its Omnis Studio Rapid Application Development tool is compatible with Mac OS 9. Omnis Studio is a visual application tool for building GUI applications for the Mac platform.

Thankfully, the Mac wasn't left out of Terminal Reality's announcement that its upcoming off-road racing game 4x4 Evolution will offer multiplatform, multiplayer capabilities -- Mac, PC and even Sega's Dreamcast. The game, which is the first third-party multiplayer entertainment announced for that console, will be released this summer. Remember: You'll pay for the whole seat, but you'll only need the edge!

Macromedia Inc. and Blue World Communications Inc. jointly announced Lasso Studio 1.5 for Dreamweaver 3. Those who already have Lasso Studio can download the update for free; the new version offers a refined interface, new wizards and a new development environment.

ACI US Inc. released Version 6.5.5 of its 4D application builder. The company calls this an "important maintenance release." It is available free to current 4D Version 6.5.x owners.

Aladdin Systems Inc. announced it is shipping MacTuner 2.1.5, a free upgrade to the MacTuner media search and control utility formerly published by Trexar Technologies Inc. MacTuner can search across the Internet for live and recorded radio and TV shows and play them via RealNetworks's RealPlayer. A 20-day trial version is free; a full version costs $22.95.

Building a better MouseWorks: Kensington has updated its MouseWorks drivers for the company's line of mouse and trackball input devices.

Killing time while waiting to sell off its assets, MetaCreations has released updates for its Canoma (soon to be an Adobe property) and Poser, both 3D applications. The former moves to Version 1.0.1; the latter, to Version 4.0.2.

Aimed at a less-professional audience is the new Scholastic educational CD-ROM, The Magic School Bus Explores Bugs (presumably not the digital kind), published by Microsoft. List price is $20.