Macworld articles from April 2006

Macworld archives from April 2006

Feedback loop.(FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK)(Editorial)
April 1, 2006... Putting together each issue of Macworld magazine has always taken a lot of work by many different people: editors, writers, copy editors, designers, photographers, illustrators, production artists, and ad salespeople--and the list goes on. But...

Photos finished.(FEEDBACK)
April 1, 2006... Our January guide to digital photography and some of the cool things you can do with iPhoto drew all kinds of reader mail. Beyond the simple thank-you notes, many of those missives included suggestions for even more photo-based gift ideas,...

Old photos, new tricks.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... JEFF PAZEN # Amazing coincidence: just last night I spent nearly an hour cursing Photo-Works and its cool but hard-to-use interface. (I even went so far as to fire up my PC to see whether Photo Works worked any better on that platform....

Noisy Power Macs.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... ROBERT SWIFT # As the considerably disappointed owner of a 10-month-old Power Mac (my eighth Mac), I could not believe your review of the latest Power Macs (Reviews, January 2006): while reporting that the new dual-core models use "the...

iPod TV.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... LOREN FINKELSTEIN # In his review of the new video-ready iPods (Reviews, January 2006), Christopher Breen said that when he ripped his DVDs to one of the new iPods and then watched the video on a TV, the quality was akin to a VCR's. I...

Safer laptopping.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... GLENN ZANDER # I'd like to add another note to Franklin N. Tessler's comments about the use of laptops as desktop machines ("Laptop Ergonomics," January 2006). Since I started wearing bifocal lenses about 12 years ago, I've found that...

Bullets that don't bite.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... JIM TUTTLE # David Sawyer McFarland wrote an interesting article about getting customized bullets using CSS ("CSS Tricks for Custom Bullets," January 2006). While I'll agree his approach is nice and allows more customization, he seems to...

What's not Hot.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... CHRISTOPHER MOORE # "What's Hot" has been on the back page for quite some time, but I think it's as entertaining as a piece of drywall. It wasn't funny when it started, and it isn't funny now. Please use the space for more Hot Stuff items...

Keep the iPods.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... GEORGE PETRELLA # It's human nature that people with complaints are more likely to write a letter than those with praise--hence the disproportionate number of letters complaining about Macworld's coverage of the iPod. But before you go and...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
April 1, 2006... In the "Gifted Photos" section of "Digital Photography Help Desk" (January 2006), we misstated the name of the Keepsake Box's vendor. The Keepsake Box is available from Snapfish (www.snapfish.com).

Building Intel apps: developers are hard at work updating software.(macbeat)
April 1, 2006... In June 2005, Steve Jobs stood before a crowd of people and announced that Apple was moving away from IBM's PowerPC chips--which had powered every Mac model for years--and moving toward Intel processors. It was a big deal, and the fact that he...

iTunes Music Store adds new TV shows.(NEWS IN BRIEF)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... In the same week that the iTunes Music Store gained 10 Disney short films, Apple added 14 new TV shows from MTV Networks, including Best of Comedy Central Stand-Up, Punk'd, animated programs South Park and Beavis and Butt-Head, and children's...

Apple stops selling Pro apps separately.(Apple Computer Inc., Final Cut Pro 5.0)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Apple's DVD Studio Pro, Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Soundtrack Pro applications--once sold separately--are now available only as part of the $1,299 Final Cut Studio bundle. Apple explains that research has shown that most customers purchase the...

Motorola releases new iTunes phone.(NEWS IN BRIEF)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Motorola and Cingular have teamed up again with a replacement for the Rokr, the first iTunes-enabled cell phone. The new Slvr L7, available from Cingular for $200 (with a 2-year contract), borrows as much from the popular Razr phone as it does...

Updated motion-graphics app adds many new features: After Effects 7.0.(macbeat)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Although most of Adobe's digital video products are PC-only apps--the company even stopped making a Mac version of its Premiere video-editing program a few years ago--Mac users who create motion graphics and visual effects for film, video, and...

Automated machines sell iPods, accessories: high-tech vending.(macbeat)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Vending machines are convenient places to purchase a quick snack. Walk into the Las Vegas Hilton or the San Francisco International Airport, however, and you'll find that they are also places to pick up something much sweeter--an iPod, for...

Deal may be good news for Apple: Disney buys Pixar.(macbeat)(Disney Store Inc.)(Pixar Animation Studios)
April 1, 2006... When Disney agreed to purchase Pixar Animation Studios in January 2006 for $7.4 billion, it meant that Steve Jobs--Pixar's Chairman and CEO--would end up with a seat on Disney's board of directors. And that, many believe, could mean stronger...

Digital whiteboard technology makes for better learning: the digital classroom.(macbeat)
April 1, 2006... On my first day teaching journalism at a community college, I walked into the classroom and knew something was missing. There was a chalkboard, a TV, a VCR, and an overhead projector, but there wasn't a computer in sight. "All my lessons are in...

Myvu headset lets you watch iPod movies on-the-go: video in your eyes.(new product from MicroOptical Corp.)
April 1, 2006... The video iPod's crisp, bright screen makes watching video on it a dream. But holding your hand a few inches from your face to watch video on the iPod's small display for an hour or two is a pain. With its new wearable myvu headset,...

Productivity beat.(macbeat)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... FileMaker Mobile 8, from FileMaker (www.filemaker.com): Database application designed for handhelds adds the ability to synchronize with databases on FileMaker Server 8 and Server 8 Advanced ($69; upgrade, $19). FirstEdge v2, from MYOB...

Creative beat.(buyers guide )(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... FontAgent Pro Server, from Insider Software (www.insidersoftware.com): Enterprise server version of FontAgent Pro provides high-speed font synchronization and a manager for preventing corrupt fonts from being added to the server (contact...

Apple releases 1BG version, drops prices on shuffle: a smaller nano.(product service evaluation)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... iPod lovers who want to carry around a limited number of tunes but still want to enjoy the benefits of a built-in display recently got some good news: Apple introduced a $149 1GB version of its iPod nano, which joins the 2GB ($199) and 4GB...

Utilities beat.(buyers guide)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... AppZapper, from AppZapper (www.appzapper.com): Utility for uninstalling applications and support files from your computer ($13). Spring Cleaning 8.0, from Allume Systems (www.allume.com): Cleanup utility has the ability to find stray images...

Imaging beat.(product informations of software industry)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Camera Raw, from Adobe (www.adobe.com): Plug-in for Photoshop CS2 adds support for 17 more camera models (free). Exposure, from Alien Skin Software (www.alienskin.com): Photoshop plug-in simulates the look and feel of film, including...

Music trade show features updated Logic Pro and more: Apple shines at NAMM.(macbeat)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... For me, the week after Macworld Expo is a time to check out the latest products in the music world, at the North American Music Merchants (NAMM) trade show in Anaheim, California. Apple showed off an update to Logic Pro ($999;...

Multimedia beat.(buyers guide)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Ampeg SVX, from IK Multimedia (www.ikmultimedia.com): Plug-in lets users choose from more than 20 bass gear emulations ($399). AmpliTube 2.0, from IK Multimedia (www.ikmultimedia.com): Guitar amp and effects plug-in features a redesigned...

iWeb 1.0: easy-to-use Web-building application joins Apple's iLife suite.(Reviews)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... Apple's first entry into consumer-based desktop Web publishing, iWeb 1.0.1 is designed to let home or small-business iLife users with no HTML or design skills build simple, beautiful Web sites. Thanks to its integration with the rest of the...

iPhoto 6: improved performance and new output options make iPhoto 6 an important upgrade.(Reviews)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... The tricky thing about novice or consumer software is that while novices might not have very advanced skills, they may still have very high aesthetic expectations. Apple's iPhoto 6.0.1, like its predecessors, provides tools that are easy enough...

GarageBand 3: drag-and-drop music-creation app takes on Podcasting.(Reviews)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... Musically inclined Mac users--from professionals who need an easy-to-use music sketchpad to amateur enthusiasts who just want to string together prerecorded loops--have been entranced by GarageBand. But if you don't have musical leanings,...

iMovie HD 6: Apple spruces up its video editor with themes and more.(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... Last year's iMovie HD (VERY GOOD; macworld.com/1112) added groundbreaking features to Apple's entry-level video editor: support for high-definition video editing, the ability to include multiple formats (such as HD, standard DV, and wide-screen...

iDVD 6: DVD-authoring software features core improvements.(digital video disk)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... It's a wide-screen world, and the new version of iDVD not only lets you match a DVD project to your new TV screen, but also lets you use any DVD burner to create that project. In Sync with Tomorrow's Screens The most obvious change to...

Keynote 3: presentation software keeps improving with age.(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... At first glance, it's easy to dismiss Keynote 3 as a minor upgrade--even the icon hasn't changed. But lurking beneath the surface of iWork's presentation app are many new features that Keynote users have been clamoring for. Although the program...

Pages 2: new version of word processing and page-layout app fixes bugs and adds features.(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... It has been a year since Apple released Pages (GOOD; macworld.com/1107)--and what a difference a year makes. I'm pleased that the new version of Pages is everything I'd hoped the initial release would be, and more. Pages 2 is an excellent...

More reviews.(Reviews)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... For complete reviews of the products listed here, visit www.macworld.com/reviews. GOOD 1/2 Advanced Web Ranking Professional 4.1 ($149; standard version, $59), from Caphyon (www.advancedwebranking.com): Webmasters whose sites depend on...

New genre of image editor: LightZone 1.0.(Reviews)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... GOOD 1/2 LightZone 1.0 ($250), from Light Crafts (www.lightcrafts.com): LightZone, an image-editing application, is an ideal tool for photographers. It's based on the Zone System--a photographic technique popularized by the famed landscape...

Call of Duty 2.(News Feed)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... This May, Aspyr will release Call of Duty 2, the newest version of the World War II--era first-person shooter. Once again you'll be able to play as American, Russian, and British soldiers fighting the Nazis in Europe and in North Africa. ...

Heroes of Might and Magic V.(News Feed)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Freeverse Software is in the process of porting the PC game Heroes of Might and Magic V to the Mac. This is the latest iteration of the fantasy-world turn-based strategy game. It includes a new 3-D-graphics engine, six campaigns, and more than...

Big Fish eats FunPause.(Big Fish Games acquired FunPause)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Big Fish Games recently acquired FunPause, and the deal is already yielding positive results for Mac gamers: FunPause is offering a Mac version of Big Fish's crime-solving game Huntsville ($20; www.funpause.com). And there's more to come. The...

Strategy; Civilization III: Complete.(Game Room)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... When Aspyr Media announced last October that it planned to bring Civilization IV, the latest release of the much-loved strategy series, to the Mac, the company threw in a special bonus--a resurrected and improved version of Civilization III....

Puzzle: Tumblebugs.(Game Room)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... GOOD 1/2; GameHouse, www.gamehouse.com; $20 Tumblebugs, by GameHouse, won't win any points for originality--it's one of many match-three--style games released within the last year. But whatever it lacks in ingenuity, it makes up for in...

Simulation: The Sims 2 University.(Game Room)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... GOOD; Aspyr Media, www.aspyr.com; $30 If you own The Sims 2, the popular simulation game that lets you micromanage the daily lives of others, check out The Sims 2 University, the game's first official expansion pack. You can now help your...

Arcade game: Bricks of Camelot.(Game Room)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... GOOD 1/2; Mac Joy, www.macjoycom; $20 I never get tired of a good brick-bashing challenge. Recently I've been enjoying Mac Joy's Bricks of Camelot, a fun and imaginative variation that's appropriate for the whole family. In Bricks of...

Play console games on your Mac.(product service evaluation)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... I love playing games on my Mac, but it's not my only gaming outlet--I've got a veritable army of console gaming systems. That used to mean I also needed a TV in my office, dedicated to gaming. But I've recently reclaimed some valuable office...

Acropolis.(product service evaluation of computer games )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD; GameHouse, www.gamehouse.com; $20 Wordsmiths looking for a fun and challenging way to pass the time should check out Game-House's Acropolis. To play, you must click on adjoining tiles (each with its own letter) to form words....

iChat modifier: Chax 1.3.(product service evaluation of voice communications software)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... Last month, I wrote about DockStar, an add-on for Mac OS X's Mail application that provides better Dock status indicators. In response, many readers asked if there was something similar for iChat--a way to get more information about incoming...

DVD-to-iPod Converter: HandBrake Lite 1.1.(product service evaluation)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... If you own a fifth-generation iPod, one of the things you probably want to do is put movies on it. After all, despite the small screen, movies really do look great on the iPod, and it's a lot easier to carry around than a laptop or a portable...

Text-pasting add-on: PlaintextPaste 0.2.(product service evaluation)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... Regular readers of Mac Gems know that I spend a lot of time working with text--and that I'm always looking for ways to clean up that text. For the ultimate in text cleaning, my tool of choice is the $25 textSoap (VERY GOOD; Mac Gems, March...

OS X Control Strip: MenuStrip 3.0.(product service evaluation)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... Some Mac users may not recall this feature from days of yore--but starting with System 7.5.5, the classic Mac OS had a modular Control Strip that provided quick access to a number of system settings. The Control Strip floated above other...

Hard-drive status checker: SMARTReporter 2.1.(product service evaluation)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2006... These days, you can get a 250GB hard drive for around $100 and reasonably expect it to last for at least a few years. But that's little consolation if you happen to be one of the unlucky people who fall victim to a bad drive. Most hard drives...

d2 DVD[+ or -]RW 16x FireWire with Double Layer.
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD d2 DVD[+ or -]RW 16xFireWire with Double Layer ($129), from LaCie (www.lacie.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This unit can burn 8.5GB of data to dual-layer DVDs. Its performance is very good overall--it burns 2.4x-rated...

Stylus Photo R340.(product information)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2 Stylus Photo R340 ($200), from Epson (www.epson.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Epson's Stylus Photo R340 prints the best color photos in its class, though its black-and-white prints are subpar. Its ability to print to CDs...

Macs.(Top Products)(Image)
April 1, 2006... DESKTOP Product Processor Display Rating iMac G5/2.1GHz 20 inches VERY GOOD Intel Core Duo/ 17 inches VERY GOOD 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo/ 20 inches VERY...

23-inch display.(LCD MONITORS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2 L2335 ($1,299), from Hewlett-Packard (www.hp.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Along with its outstanding value and ability to pivot to portrait mode, the L2335 provides excellent video-in options and very good color fidelity...

20-inch display.(LCD MONITORS)(NEC MultiSync LCD2070NX)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2 MultiSync LCD2070NX ($799), from NEC (www.necdisplay.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The MultiSync LCD2070NX is great for people who want a moderately priced 20-inch monitor that can display bright, accurate colors...

19-inch display.(LCD MONITORS)(Sony SDM-HS95P )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD SDM-HS95P ($550), from Sony (www.sony.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This display lacks some features (such as a USB hub, speakers, and the ability to pivot), but it's a bright and nicely designed LCD (macworld.com/0638).

17-inch display.(LCD MONITORS)
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD SDM-HS75P ($400), from Sony (www.sony.com): The SDM-HS75P is a good choice for people who have limited desk space (macworld.com/0637).

Optura 60.(MINIDV CAMCORDER)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD Optura 60 ($899), from Canon (www.canon.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Optura 60 shoots excellent video (as long as you have enough light) with true-to-life, vibrant color. It also offers optical image stabilization, a true...

Magicolor 2430 DL.(COLOR LASER PRINTER)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD Magicolor 2430 DL ($499), from Konica Minolta (www.konicaminolta.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Magicolor 2430 DL is a capable networked color laser printer whose setup needs a bit of finessing. But it has a low price,...

Midrange scanner.(FLATBED SCANNERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2 CanoScan 9950F ($400), from Canon (www.canon.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The CanoScan 9950F offers improved scan quality and more-intuitive software controls. This model tops its predecessor, the 9900F, in almost every...

Low-end scanner.(FLATBED SCANNERS)
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD CanoScan 8400F ($150), from Canon (www.canon.com): The 8400F has limited transparency support but is a great all-around scanner (macworld.com/0187).

Desktop drive.(FIREWIRE DRIVES)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2 Black Series Triple Interface, 250GB ($240), from Iomega (www.iomega.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You can't go wrong with its speed, connection options, and low price per gigabyte (macworld.com/0580). ALSO...

Portable drive.(FIREWIRE DRIVES)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD Mercury On-the-Go 7,200 rpm 8MB, 60GB ($225), from OWC (www.macsales.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Loaded with useful utilities, this little drive has good connection options and an eye-catching design (macworld.com/0580). ...

Digital cameras.(Top Products)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Company Product Rating Price BUDGET CAMERA Hewlett- Photosmart GOOD $150 Packard M22 FOR DIGITAL PHOTO BEGINNERS Canon PowerShot VERY GOOD $399 SD400 FOR INTERMEDIATE...

5.1-megapixel camera.(Hardware Products We Tested This Month)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... GOOD 1/2 FinePix S5200 ($400), from Fujifilm (www.fujifilm.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The easy-to-use S5200 takes great pictures and offers a good range of advanced features for a low price (macworld.com/1155).

6-megapixel digital camera.(Hardware Products We Tested This Month)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... GOOD 1/2 SP-500 Ultra Zoom ($380), from Olympus (www.olympusamerica.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The SP-500 Ultra Zoom is a competitively priced camera with a long zoom lens and numerous scene modes that will appeal to many...

8-megapixel digital camera.(Hardware Products We Tested This Month)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD Lumix DMC-FZ30K ($700), from Panasonic (www.panasonic.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The DMC-FZ30K's SLR styling is well suited to photographers who are eager for manual controls. Its images look great when taken in good...

6-megapixel digital camera.(Hardware Products We Tested This Month)
April 1, 2006... GOOD Dimage Z6 ($400), from Konica Minolta (www.konicaminolta.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Despite its 12x optical zoom, the 6-megapixel Dimage Z6 has unimpressive image quality (macworld.com/1158).

Mini FireWire hard drive.(Hardware Products We Tested This Month)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VERY GOOD MiniMax ($250), from Iomega (www.iomega.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Iomega MiniMax fits neatly under the Mac mini. Its speedy 250GB hard drive and integrated USB and FireWire hub make it a great companion to Apple's...

Top iPod gear: the best accessories for your music player.(buyers guide)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2006... There's no questioning the success of the iPod--Apple has sold 42 million of them since 2002--but for most people, purchasing the stylish music player is only the beginning. Whether it's a plush case to protect your iPod, a speaker set for...

Inside the Intel iMac: they may not look different, but Apple's first Intel machines completely change the Mac market.(Cover story)
April 1, 2006... Apple's move to Intel is a really big deal. Not just because Apple is embracing the products of a company it once mocked. And not only among the geekier of us who like to argue vociferously about the minutiae of microprocessors. No, the Intel...

Beat e-mail hassles.(email queries)
April 1, 2006... These days, e-mail is so essential to the way we work that even the slightest hiccup in the flow of messages can ruin your day. You don't have to put up with a cluttered, creaking inbox or attachments you just can't seem to send. Here's how to...

The iPod on TV.(PLAYLIST)
April 1, 2006... The new iPod is a great way to watch videos during a morning commute, a lunch break, or a plane trip. But one often overlooked feature is its ability to display those videos on a television set, with the $19 Apple iPod AV Cable. Here's how to...

Take control of the flash.(methods of controlling flash units in digital cameras)
April 1, 2006... To capture good photos, you need good lighting. In many cases, this means relying on your camera's flash controls. When used correctly, your camera's onboard flash can perform some of the magic that helps professionals change ordinary snapshots...

Create a video Podcast.(CREATE)
April 1, 2006... With a digital video camera and Apple's iMovie HD, anyone with the inclination and the creativity can become a movie producer. But making the movies is only half the battle--you also have to find an audience. How? Create a video Podcast....

Beyond basic black.(MOBILE MAC)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2006... Laptop bags have long been the Model Ts of the accessories world: practical, homely, and black. That's changing. When it comes to toting your favorite Mac, basic black is way, way out. Bags now come in a riot of colors, fabrics, and shapes. But...

Command-line lifesavers.(GEEK FACTOR)
April 1, 2006... If you're new to the command line, you've probably heard horror stories about people who've erased all their files with one command. And if you're a Terminal veteran, you've undoubtedly had a few brushes with disaster. When you work with the...

Mac OS X Hints: the insiders' tips you won't get from Apple.(HELP DESK)
April 1, 2006... Drag and Drop Print Jobs between Printers If you have more than one printer, you've probably sent a file to the wrong printer more than once. That's not a problem when you send a short, simple text document to the photo printer--you're...

Mac 911: solutions to your most vexing Mac problems.(HELP DESK)
April 1, 2006... A Cure for Missing Key Caps I'm trying to figure out how to use special characters in specific fonts, but I can't find Key Caps in my Applications folder or anywhere in Mac OS X 10.4.3. Font Book doesn't allow me to try the modifier keys....

NuLooq.(Our Favorite New Stuff)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Anyone using a graphics application probably spends an inordinate amount of time mousing between menus, tools, and tool options. Logitech is hoping to change this with the $149 NuLooq Navigator, a stationary input device designed for use by...

Path Finder 4.(Our Favorite New Stuff)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... OS X's Finder is elegant and well designed, but I find it a little too clear and simple--which is why I'm glad Path Finder 4 has arrived. The venerable Finder replacement has finally been upgraded for Tiger, acquiring in the process a nifty new...

iPoddisk.(Our Favorite New Stuff)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Although Apple prevents it, there are legitimate reasons for copying files from an iPod--such as restoring a lost iTunes library. We even gave an Eddy award to an app that does this: Senuti. Recently, I came across a piece of software that I...

What's hot.(Our Favorite New Stuff)(earnings rise by 92 percent)(rework on software applications)(acquisition)
April 1, 2006... 1 Disney buys Pixar, giving Steve Jobs a seat on Disney's board of directors. Disneyland is expected to add a new "Mr. Jobs's Wild Ride" attraction in 2008. 2 Software developers work on updating their apps to run natively on Intel-based...

Guba.(Our Favorite New Stuff)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The alt.binaries newsgroups are one of the Internet's oldest and biggest repositories for videos and images. However, navigating them--even with Mac news-reading software--can be more trouble than it's worth, thanks to incomplete archives and...

Scratch-Less Disc.(Our Favorite New Stuff)
April 1, 2006... I admit it: I'm careless with my CDs and DVDs. And one bad scratch means that my archived data is suddenly inaccessible. The folks at Scratch-Less Disc have a solution for people like me: recordable CDs (DVDs are on the way) with two special...