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Mac Product Watch (6/5 to 6/9)

June 5 to June 9, 2000
Written by Daniel Turner, Contributor
Three-D isn't just for games: Appian Graphics' Jeronimo 2000 graphics card, with dual-monitor support based on dual Permedia 3 processors, is targeted at the professional 3-D development market.The $749 card sits in a single AGP slot (which only the recent Power Mac G4 systems sport) but can drive two monitors, each at distinct refresh rates and resolutions.

Boca Research has announced that its Global Village Turbo USB card, which adds two Universal Serial Bus ports to Macs via a single PCI card, will ship in July at a cost of $40.

Macz Software's free HTML Converter 1.0 is a simple utility that converts the special characters in text files (such as @, £ and the like) to the appropriate HTML code. According to Macz Software, the utility even lets users convert entire folders full of HTML files simply by dropping the folder in question onto the utility's icon.

InfoLogic Inc. has released MathMagic Personal Edition 2.0, an update to its stand-alone equation editor for use with QuarkXPress. The new, $99 version includes more templates and symbols for mathematical equations, TrueType and PostScript fonts, keyboard shortcuts, and support for drag-and-drop controls.

If you were thinking of updating to Final Cut Pro 1.2.5 (mentioned here yesterday), first consult this Apple Tech Info Library article. It contains some warnings about when updating might not be a good idea, such as in the middle of a project. (Why they don't post these with the updaters is anybody's guess.)

Macromedia Inc. has updated its vector-based graphics application, FreeHand, to Version 9.0.1. It fixes a few glitches with linked images, improves TIFF previews in EPS files, and offers better PDF and SWF export, as well as resolving problems with outputting fonts to a PostScript printer from a Windows-based PC.

Einhugur Software has released UtilsLib 3.0, the latest version of its REALbasic plug-in that adds GUID services as well as bit, string and time functions to the programming language. New to this edition is better support for Win32 compiling; it's also compiled with REALbasic 2.1.x.

Internet Pictures Corp. has made available its iPIX QuickTime Component, which enables the import and viewing of iPIX images in any QuickTime-enabled application.

Cycore has released Cult Effects 1.5, an update to its collection of 26 special-effects plug-ins for Adobe After Effects 4.0. The suite gains new filters, improved features and "advanced documentation." The upgrade to the $695 product is free.

Smith Micro Software's Web Catalog 4.0 adds new StoreBuilder templates to the online store building application. It also gains automatic WAP support for any StoreBuilder-based site for use with wireless devices, extensions that work with Macromedia Inc.'s Dreamweaver and "other productivity features." The $3,495 store-building application works with servers on multiple platforms and allows the creation of an unlimited number of Web storefronts from within a browser.

Aladdin Systems Inc. hits a daily double with new versions of both InstallerMaker 6.5.2 and MacTicker 1.6.3. New to the former (a tool for developers to create application installers) is support for Mac OS 9's USB Software Locator, which automatically finds and downloads Universal Serial Bus drivers. The latter, a $30 live stock ticker for the desktop, fixes problems with accessing quotes for some European stocks.

Apple has released Final Cut Pro 1.2.5. This latest version of the prosumer-level video-editing application adds support for the cinematic 16:9 wide-screen format, YUV processing and the ability to create a reference movie. The update is available as a free download. U.S. customers can also order it on CD for $20 plus tax ($30 plus tax in Canada).

Macromedia Inc. (macr) has shipped Dreamweaver UltraDev, its Web application development tool based on the popular Dreamweaver Web-page creation application. Dreamweaver UltraDev is designed to work with Sun Microsystems JavaServer Pages (JSP), Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP) and Allaire ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML). The price is $599 for new users; owners of Dreamweaver 3 can get the UltraDev package for $299. As this application replaces Macromedia's previous application Drumbeat, those who purchased Drumbeat 2000 after April 5 can receive a free upgrade; otherwise, the update is $99.

Eastman Kodak Co. (ek) has announced two new digital cameras, the $700 DC5000 and the $900 DC4800. The former, due later in June, sports a rubberized body for limited weather resistance, a 2x optical and 3x digital zoom, 2-megapixel resolution and Universal Serial Bus connectivity. The DC4800, which is set for an August release, comes sheathed in a titanium finish and offers a 3x optical zoom; 3.1-megapixel resolution; USB connectivity; and ISO settings of 100, 200 and 400.

Club Photo Inc. has released i.Share, an Adobe Photoshop and PhotoDeluxe plug-in for sharing and displaying images over the Internet. It enables users of the graphics apps to transfer images directly to a user's registered Club Photo Web site for public viewing. Although the service is free of charge, it does require joining Club Photo.

Kensington Technology Group has made available MouseWorks 5.41, the latest set of drivers for its third-party input devices.

StimpSoft Inc. has released FTupperware 2.0, a freeware utility that automatically uploads files placed in a hot folder to a remote server. Version 2.0 adds the ability to route files to different locations based on the file's name.

Despite John Dvorak's protestations, FireWire is doing quite well, thank you. Just one example: Apple's (aapl) FireWire 2.4 update, which improves throughput with FireWire hard drives, adds support for the Newer FireWire 2 Go CardBus adapter and fixes bugs.

Adobe Systems Inc. (adbe) has released its free SVG Viewer, a Web browser plug-in for viewing content in the open Scalable Vector Graphics format. The current version supports Netscape Navigator 4.07 and later, as well as Microsoft's Internet Explorer 5.0, though the latter can only display static SVG items.

Open Door Networks Inc. has begun shipping its DoorStop Firewall Personal Edition 2.0, a security application especially useful for those using full-time network setups such as DSL or cable modems. DoorStop 2.0 allows users to block attempted access over the Internet either globally or selectively and provides detailed information about such attempts. Version 2.0 also adds a Control Strip module that provides an easily accessible status indicator; a self-test window; protection for UDP as well as TCP protocols; and improved support for FTP. Pricing ranges from $59 for a single-user license to $1299 for 50 users. (The price for education use is $999.). Upgrades are free.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (hwp) has announced the HP DeskJet 640/648C, a $119 inkjet printer for home use. The printer, available today, features print speeds of up to 6 pages per minute (ppm) in black and white and 3 ppm in color; a dual-print color/black-and-white cartridge system; and HP ColorSmart III software. It also features optional photo-quality printing with the HP Photo Cartridge, which is not included.

Zero G Software has introduced InstallAnywhere 3.5, the cross-platform application deployment software. Written entirely in Java, InstallAnywhere 3.5 is compatible with Java 2 v1.3 and adds full support for Linux as well as ZeroG's own PowerUpdate updating service. Pricing ranges from $495 for InstallAnywhere Express to $1995 for the Enterprise Edition.

The freeware iDonate 1.0 will automatically log users on to The Hunger Site and The Rainforest Site and click to donate food and land (respectively) automatically.

CE Software has updated its popular macro utility QuicKeys to Version 5.0, adding the ability to trigger QuicKeys actions via Mac OS Speech Recognition, "pop-out" and tabbed tool bars, and a new setup assistant. The retail price is $100; upgrades from Version 4.0 are $36.

Responding to complaints that its next-generation page-layout application, InDesign, works only with PostScript printers, Adobe Systems Inc. has released the first beta of a Non PostScript Printing Update. This free update (registration required) will allow printing to QuickDraw-based printers such as the popular Epson and Hewlett-Packard models directly from InDesign. Useful, but remember -- it's a beta.

ADS Technologies has shipped its Pyro 1394 Port. Formerly available only packaged with the company's Pyro Digital Video 1394DV digital video-editing system, the Port is a $60 PCI card that adds FireWire connectivity to older Macs. It includes Ulead's VideoStudio 4.0SE and will work with Apple's iMovie.

New to AMP Radio 1.6.7 from Subband Software Inc. is the ability to broadcast live streams from your Mac (the update also includes the ability to bookmark streams and a few bug fixes). There's a 10-day free trial available -- after that, it's $10.

Bleu Rose Ltd. has released Black & Bleu 2.0, a comprehensive database of all those pesky little error codes -- more than 4,000 -- that can pop up on your Mac. This utility can even be set to provide detailed, programmer-oriented babble or speak in plain-human terms. It's $29 if downloaded (a CD-ROM version is $41); a Pro version, which adds the ability to share explanations with others, is $129 via download or $141 in the CD-ROM version.

Three-D isn't just for games: Appian Graphics' Jeronimo 2000 graphics card, with dual-monitor support based on dual Permedia 3 processors, is targeted at the professional 3-D development market.The $749 card sits in a single AGP slot (which only the recent Power Mac G4 systems sport) but can drive two monitors, each at distinct refresh rates and resolutions.

Boca Research has announced that its Global Village Turbo USB card, which adds two Universal Serial Bus ports to Macs via a single PCI card, will ship in July at a cost of $40.

Macz Software's free HTML Converter 1.0 is a simple utility that converts the special characters in text files (such as @, £ and the like) to the appropriate HTML code. According to Macz Software, the utility even lets users convert entire folders full of HTML files simply by dropping the folder in question onto the utility's icon.

InfoLogic Inc. has released MathMagic Personal Edition 2.0, an update to its stand-alone equation editor for use with QuarkXPress. The new, $99 version includes more templates and symbols for mathematical equations, TrueType and PostScript fonts, keyboard shortcuts, and support for drag-and-drop controls.

If you were thinking of updating to Final Cut Pro 1.2.5 (mentioned here yesterday), first consult this Apple Tech Info Library article. It contains some warnings about when updating might not be a good idea, such as in the middle of a project. (Why they don't post these with the updaters is anybody's guess.)

Macromedia Inc. has updated its vector-based graphics application, FreeHand, to Version 9.0.1. It fixes a few glitches with linked images, improves TIFF previews in EPS files, and offers better PDF and SWF export, as well as resolving problems with outputting fonts to a PostScript printer from a Windows-based PC.

Einhugur Software has released UtilsLib 3.0, the latest version of its REALbasic plug-in that adds GUID services as well as bit, string and time functions to the programming language. New to this edition is better support for Win32 compiling; it's also compiled with REALbasic 2.1.x.

Internet Pictures Corp. has made available its iPIX QuickTime Component, which enables the import and viewing of iPIX images in any QuickTime-enabled application.

Cycore has released Cult Effects 1.5, an update to its collection of 26 special-effects plug-ins for Adobe After Effects 4.0. The suite gains new filters, improved features and "advanced documentation." The upgrade to the $695 product is free.

Smith Micro Software's Web Catalog 4.0 adds new StoreBuilder templates to the online store building application. It also gains automatic WAP support for any StoreBuilder-based site for use with wireless devices, extensions that work with Macromedia Inc.'s Dreamweaver and "other productivity features." The $3,495 store-building application works with servers on multiple platforms and allows the creation of an unlimited number of Web storefronts from within a browser.

Aladdin Systems Inc. hits a daily double with new versions of both InstallerMaker 6.5.2 and MacTicker 1.6.3. New to the former (a tool for developers to create application installers) is support for Mac OS 9's USB Software Locator, which automatically finds and downloads Universal Serial Bus drivers. The latter, a $30 live stock ticker for the desktop, fixes problems with accessing quotes for some European stocks.

Apple has released Final Cut Pro 1.2.5. This latest version of the prosumer-level video-editing application adds support for the cinematic 16:9 wide-screen format, YUV processing and the ability to create a reference movie. The update is available as a free download. U.S. customers can also order it on CD for $20 plus tax ($30 plus tax in Canada).

Macromedia Inc. (macr) has shipped Dreamweaver UltraDev, its Web application development tool based on the popular Dreamweaver Web-page creation application. Dreamweaver UltraDev is designed to work with Sun Microsystems JavaServer Pages (JSP), Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP) and Allaire ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML). The price is $599 for new users; owners of Dreamweaver 3 can get the UltraDev package for $299. As this application replaces Macromedia's previous application Drumbeat, those who purchased Drumbeat 2000 after April 5 can receive a free upgrade; otherwise, the update is $99.

Eastman Kodak Co. (ek) has announced two new digital cameras, the $700 DC5000 and the $900 DC4800. The former, due later in June, sports a rubberized body for limited weather resistance, a 2x optical and 3x digital zoom, 2-megapixel resolution and Universal Serial Bus connectivity. The DC4800, which is set for an August release, comes sheathed in a titanium finish and offers a 3x optical zoom; 3.1-megapixel resolution; USB connectivity; and ISO settings of 100, 200 and 400.

Club Photo Inc. has released i.Share, an Adobe Photoshop and PhotoDeluxe plug-in for sharing and displaying images over the Internet. It enables users of the graphics apps to transfer images directly to a user's registered Club Photo Web site for public viewing. Although the service is free of charge, it does require joining Club Photo.

Kensington Technology Group has made available MouseWorks 5.41, the latest set of drivers for its third-party input devices.

StimpSoft Inc. has released FTupperware 2.0, a freeware utility that automatically uploads files placed in a hot folder to a remote server. Version 2.0 adds the ability to route files to different locations based on the file's name.

Despite John Dvorak's protestations, FireWire is doing quite well, thank you. Just one example: Apple's (aapl) FireWire 2.4 update, which improves throughput with FireWire hard drives, adds support for the Newer FireWire 2 Go CardBus adapter and fixes bugs.

Adobe Systems Inc. (adbe) has released its free SVG Viewer, a Web browser plug-in for viewing content in the open Scalable Vector Graphics format. The current version supports Netscape Navigator 4.07 and later, as well as Microsoft's Internet Explorer 5.0, though the latter can only display static SVG items.

Open Door Networks Inc. has begun shipping its DoorStop Firewall Personal Edition 2.0, a security application especially useful for those using full-time network setups such as DSL or cable modems. DoorStop 2.0 allows users to block attempted access over the Internet either globally or selectively and provides detailed information about such attempts. Version 2.0 also adds a Control Strip module that provides an easily accessible status indicator; a self-test window; protection for UDP as well as TCP protocols; and improved support for FTP. Pricing ranges from $59 for a single-user license to $1299 for 50 users. (The price for education use is $999.). Upgrades are free.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (hwp) has announced the HP DeskJet 640/648C, a $119 inkjet printer for home use. The printer, available today, features print speeds of up to 6 pages per minute (ppm) in black and white and 3 ppm in color; a dual-print color/black-and-white cartridge system; and HP ColorSmart III software. It also features optional photo-quality printing with the HP Photo Cartridge, which is not included.

Zero G Software has introduced InstallAnywhere 3.5, the cross-platform application deployment software. Written entirely in Java, InstallAnywhere 3.5 is compatible with Java 2 v1.3 and adds full support for Linux as well as ZeroG's own PowerUpdate updating service. Pricing ranges from $495 for InstallAnywhere Express to $1995 for the Enterprise Edition.

The freeware iDonate 1.0 will automatically log users on to The Hunger Site and The Rainforest Site and click to donate food and land (respectively) automatically.

CE Software has updated its popular macro utility QuicKeys to Version 5.0, adding the ability to trigger QuicKeys actions via Mac OS Speech Recognition, "pop-out" and tabbed tool bars, and a new setup assistant. The retail price is $100; upgrades from Version 4.0 are $36.

Responding to complaints that its next-generation page-layout application, InDesign, works only with PostScript printers, Adobe Systems Inc. has released the first beta of a Non PostScript Printing Update. This free update (registration required) will allow printing to QuickDraw-based printers such as the popular Epson and Hewlett-Packard models directly from InDesign. Useful, but remember -- it's a beta.

ADS Technologies has shipped its Pyro 1394 Port. Formerly available only packaged with the company's Pyro Digital Video 1394DV digital video-editing system, the Port is a $60 PCI card that adds FireWire connectivity to older Macs. It includes Ulead's VideoStudio 4.0SE and will work with Apple's iMovie.

New to AMP Radio 1.6.7 from Subband Software Inc. is the ability to broadcast live streams from your Mac (the update also includes the ability to bookmark streams and a few bug fixes). There's a 10-day free trial available -- after that, it's $10.

Bleu Rose Ltd. has released Black & Bleu 2.0, a comprehensive database of all those pesky little error codes -- more than 4,000 -- that can pop up on your Mac. This utility can even be set to provide detailed, programmer-oriented babble or speak in plain-human terms. It's $29 if downloaded (a CD-ROM version is $41); a Pro version, which adds the ability to share explanations with others, is $129 via download or $141 in the CD-ROM version.

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