Macworld articles from August 2005

Macworld archives from August 2005

Intel inside, Mac outside: so the rumors are true. After 11 years, Apple will soon ditch the PowerPC architecture and begin building Macs based on Intel processors. And the first thing we have to do is disentangle emotional reactions from the cold, hard technical facts.(Editorial)
August 1, 2005... Axis of Evil? Over the years, Apple and its onetime chip partners, Motorola and IBM, have invested considerable time and money in disparaging both Intel's processors and its aggressive marketing efforts. (Remember the ads with the guy in...

We get the message.(FEEDBACK)
August 1, 2005... If you have any doubt that instant messaging (IM) has gone thoroughly mainstream, just check out the response to our review of IM programs (May 2005). The mail was high-volume in both quantity and tone. Every-one, it seems, has an opinion--and...

Chit chat.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... JOSEPH BURNS # As an avid Macworld reader, I've often noticed that your ratings for Apple products tend to skew upward. In the case of your review of IM software (May 2005), I feel that bias gave America Online's Instant Messenger (GOOD...

On the road again.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... RICHARD G. BRIBIESCAS # In response to the excellent tip about backing up your slides ("Hit the Road, Mac," May 2005), I'd like to suggest simply creating a backup PDF copy of your Apple Keynote or Microsoft PowerPoint presentation (either...

Codec confusion.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... AL LEMIEUX # Jonathan Seff's "Play Anything" (Playlist, May 2005) came two months too late for me. That's how long I've been trying to open some AVI files that used an old Intel Indeo 2.1 codec. I tried converting them using a slew of...

How to download an OS.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... JOSE DONIGA # I recently bought a new iPod mini. I followed the instructions, loaded the software, and then connected the iPod mini to the computer. Nothing happened. So I looked up the system requirements. Turns out that while iTunes and...

So long, paper.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... BAKARI CHAVANU # I agree with Jason Snell when he says that the Internet hasn't replaced the printed word (From the Editor's Desk, May 2005). But I happened to read that column in digital form, using Zinio Reader, which came installed on...

Apple versus ASP.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... TYLER REGAS # In response to reader Tom Dalton's letter "Mac Off the Web?" (Feedback, May 2005), in which he blames Apple for OS X's incompatibility with a "growing number of Web pages [that] use ASP (Active Server Pages) apps"--his real...

Who burns your music?(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... BOB WEAVER # In "Napster's Bad Math" (Mac Beat, May 2005), Jonathan Seff writes that "you own anything you get from iTunes." This is not really true. You are simply licensing the song--you are bound by the terms of the license agreement,...

Change is good.(FEEDBACK)
August 1, 2005... J. REVIERE # The May issue just arrived, and I like the changes you've made. I like the nuts-and-bolts how-tos. I like to make my Macs more useful. Your new direction is much appreciated. * Post comments on our forums...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2005... In our review of IM software (May 2005), we incorrectly reported the price of an iChat screen name. If you sign up for a free 60-day .Mac trial period, you can keep your screen name at the end of it. We also misreported iChat's one-way...

Apple moving to Intel.(SPECIAL REPORT)(Editorial)
August 1, 2005... Steve Jobs's startling announcement that Apple will begin a transition away from PowerPC chips to Intel processors has left Mac fans' heads spinning--and not just because a former "enemy" of the Mac is now counted among its allies. Many...

Developers weigh in on Apple's Intel news: transition time.(SPECIAL REPORT)
August 1, 2005... It could have been a rude awakening for Mac developers. Apple's announcement that Macs would start including Intel-built processors in 2006 means that Mac software makers will have to update their programs to run on the new machines. But most...

A primer on Intel's processors: behind the CPUs.(SPECIAL REPORT)
August 1, 2005... Apple's decision to move to Intel for its processor needs brings up many questions. But many people are simply wondering why: What do Intel's X86 CPUs offer that IBM's PowerPC chips don't? Steve Jobs mentioned low power consumption, or...

A perspective on the Intel transition: why today isn't like 1994.(SPECIAL REPORT)
August 1, 2005... I started my life as a full-time Mac editor in 1994, just as the 680X0-to-PowerPC transition was beginning. This new PowerPC-to-Intel transition reminds me of the Mac's previous chip transition--but there are also many differences. The...

Photoshop CS2: sprawling upgrade adds depth, refinement, and complexity.(Adobe Photoshop CS2 (Image Processing Software).)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Something for everybody: that about sums up what's new in Adobe Photoshop CS2. The latest version of the world's top image editor is peppered with improvements for every type of user. Photographers gain the most, but Photoshop CS2 will also...

InDesign CS2: text-handling enhancements, object styles, and more make this the best layout program available.(Desktop publishing software.)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... InDesign was already the clear leader in typographic sophistication, object handling, multilingual publishing, and transparency effects for text and graphics. And with InDesign CS2, Adobe has significantly bolstered text- and graphics-handling...

The view from the Bridge.(Adobe Bridge (File Browser).)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Adobe's new Bridge--a stand-alone application aptly named for its integrative and management functions--has replaced Photoshop CS's dedicated File Browser. It provides file-management and automation features for the entire Creative Suite 2. ...

How CS2 apps use Bridge.(ADOBE CREATIVE SUITE 2)(Adobe Photoshop CS2., Adobe Bridge.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Photoshop As a direct descendant of Photoshop's File Browser, Bridge is a key companion to Photoshop CS2. It's a virtual light table, a slide projector, and an automation assistant. I could see using some of the other Creative Suite 2...

Illustrator CS2: new version focuses on illustration.(Adobe Illustrator CS2 (Draw Software).)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... In the past, Illustrator upgrades included major interface changes or, as in the CS upgrade, a complete reworking of the program's typographic features. For Illustrator CS2, Adobe's engineers addressed the program's core drawing functions. The...

GoLive CS2: improved program but not a critical update.(Adobe GoLive CS2 (Web authoring software).)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Adobe has added key features to GoLive that make this veteran of the Web-design wars even more appealing to its key audience of designers. But bugs in the release version, coupled with an uncertain future, make GoLive CS2 a tough product to...

Version Cue CS2.(Adobe Version Cue CS2 (Document Management Software).)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... I really disliked Version Cue CS when Adobe introduced it with the first version of its Creative Suite. I found it awkward and highly unintuitive--and I wasn't alone. Adobe has greatly revamped this file-sharing and version-management adjunct...

Portable hard drive.(FIREWIRE HARD DRIVES)(OWC 100GB Mercury On-The-Go 5400rpm 8MB.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... VERY GOOD 100GB Mercury On-The-Go 5400rpm 8MB ($300), from OWC (www.macseles.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's relatively expensive, but this drive is our favorite. It's fast, FireWire bus-powered, and compact it has a triple...

Desktop hard drive.(FIREWIRE HARD DRIVES)(Mercury Elite FireWire 800 Pro.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... VERY GOOD 1/2 400GB Mercury Elite FireWire 800 Pro ($450), from OWC (www.macsales.com): This fast desktop drive has FireWire 400 and 800 interfaces and boots OS X (macworld.com/0580).

Dimage Z5.(Konica Minolta Dimage Z5 (Digital Camera).)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... VERY GOOD Dimage Z5 ($649), from Konica Minolta (www.konicaminolta.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Dimage Z5 takes great pictures, especially at low ISO speeds. It has a 12X zoom lens and image stabilization; an Automatic mode for...

Macs.(PowerPC based computers.)(Illustration)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... DESKTOP Product Processor Display Rating iMac G5/1.8GHz 17 inches VERY GOOD G5/2GHz 17 inches VERY GOOD G5/2GHz 20 inches VERY GOOD 1/2 eMac ...

LaserJet 2550Ln.(Color laser printer.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... VERY GOOD LaserJet 2550Ln ($600), from Hewlett-Packard (www.hp.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An inexpensive, networkable color laser printer, the LaserJet 2550Ln offers crisp text and good color fidelity. It supports Apple's Bonjour...

d2 DVD[+ or -] RW 16X FireWire, with Double Layer.(DVD recordable drives.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... VERY GOOD d2 DVD[+ or -] RW 16X FireWire, with Double Layer ($189), from LaCie (www.lacie.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This DVD burner can burn 8.5GB of data to dual-layer DVDs. Although it has a relatively slow read speed, its...

EOS Digital Rebel XT.(Digital camera.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... VERY GOOD 1/2 EOS Digital Rebel XT (body only, $899; with EF-S 18mm-55mm f3.5-f5.6 zoom lens, $999), from Canon (www.canon.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Canon defined this market with the original Rebel, and it keeps its lead with the...

21-inch display.(LCD MONITOR)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... VERY GOOD 1/2 321 LCD Monitor ($1,599), from LaCie (www.lacie.com): LaCie takes one of the best LCDs available and improves on it. This is a bright, beautiful LCD aimed at professionals who are willing to pay the price for accurate color....

Photosmart 8450.(Color inkjet printer.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... VERY GOOD 1/2 Photosmart 8450 ($250), from Hewlett-Packard (www.hp.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This networkable ink-jet printer uses eight inks to print excellent-looking photos (macworld.com/0280). ALSO RECOMMENDED: VERY...

Midrange scanner.(Flatbed color scanner.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... VERY GOOD 1/2 CanoScan 9950F ($400), from Canon (www.canon.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This CanoScan raises the bar for midrange scanners by offering high optical resolution, improved scan quality, and more-intuitive software controls...

Low-end scanner.(Flatbed color scanner.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... VERY GOOD CanoScan 8400F ($150), from Canon (www.canon.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 8400F has limited film and transparency support but is a great all-around scanner with some high-end features and a low-end price...

Optura 60.(NEW: MINIDV CAMCORDER)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... VERY GOOD Optura 60 ($899), from Canon (www.canon.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Optura 60 shoots excellent video (provided you have enough light), with accurate, vibrant color. It also offers optical image stabilization, true 16:9...

Photosmart R717.(6.2-MEGAPIXEL CAMERA)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... GOOD 1/2 Photosmart R717 ($300), from Hewlett-Packard (www.hp.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Photosmart R717 is a good choice for beginners who want some hand-holding; however, its manual controls are limited. Although it has very...

PowerShot SD500.(7.1-MEGAPIXEL CAMERA)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... VERY GOOD PowerShot SD500 ($600), from Canon (www.canon.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While this camera takes excellent pictures, its lack of manual features makes it pricey for a point-and-shoot. It has a bright LCD, a...

Photosmart M22.(4-MEGAPIXEL CAMERA)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... GOOD Photosmart M22 ($150), from Hewlett-Packard (www.hp.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The HP Photosmart M22 is an attractive package, especially if you have a penchant for panoramas. Extensive help features, respectable images, and a...

PowerShot A520.(Digital camera.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... GOOD 1/2 PowerShot A520 ($379), from Canon (www.canon.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This camera takes good pictures. It features excellent color, a 4x optical zoom, and full manual controls. The camera's menus are easy to read and...

More reviews.(REVIEWS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... For complete reviews of the products listed here, visit www.macworld.com/reviews. VERY GOOD ChronoSync 3.0 ($30), from Econ Technologies (www.econtechnologies.com): Whether you need to back up files or synchronize them between multiple...

Keep the Internet simple and safe: Web browsers for kids.(REVIEWS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... It may not be the Wild West, but the Web can still be a dangerous place for kids. Most Web browsers are designed for the broadest audience possible, with little thought about the needs of specific age groups. Kids who are researching...

Make the most of your music: digital music accessories.(REVIEWS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... VERY GOOD iFi ($400), from Klipsch (www.klipsch.com): The first iPod-centric home speaker system provides full, rich sound and convenient features for a decent price. People who want speakers for their desktops should look elsewhere, but for a...

Flight simulation: X-Plane 8.(Simulation game.)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... For Mac users who want to know what it feels like to be in the cockpit of a jetliner during a stormy landing with only one functioning engine, there's really just one choice: X-Plane 8. More learning tool than game, this sophisticated flight...

Children's game; Hello Kitty: Bubblegum Girlfriends.(Children's educational software.)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Sanrio put a lock on little girls' hearts in the early 1970s with its adorable mascot, Hello Kitty. Some 30 years later, she's still a marketing force to reckon with. Kitty White's friendly yet disturbingly mouth-less face embellishes thousands...

Action: Jammin' Racer.(Action game.)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Shareware game developer DanLabGames has a knack for creating top-notch casual Mac games that are refreshingly original and fun. Jammin' Racer--an arcade-style racing game--is its most ambitious release to date. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Crimson Room.(Adventure game.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... If you're in the mood for something completely different and don't want to download a game, check out Toshimitsu Takagi's superlative Crimson Room, a Shockwave-based game that tests the limits of what the technology can do. After a night...

Speed-Link Competition Pro USB.(Game Gear)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Readers occasionally ask me to recommend a joystick that isn't too complicated or elaborate. Finally I've found one that fits the bill: the Speed-Link Competition Pro USB. It's particularly good if you play arcade-style shooters or are fond of...

Star Wars: Battlefront.(Recently Reviewed)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Star Wars: Battlefront VERY GOOD; Aspyr Media, www.aspyt.com; $50 In July's issue, I gave you the first look at Aspyr's Star Wars: Battlefront, which puts you at the front lines of many of the battles you've seen in the Star Wars...

Two obsessions combined.(Aspyr Media Inc plans to release Lego Star Wars Mac version.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Aspyr Media plans to release a Mac version of Lego Star Wars in August. The game combines the fun of Lego building blocks with the mythology of the epic Star Wars films. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Murder mystery.(Aspyr Media Inc releases new adventure game.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Dark Motives, by Aspyr Media, is coming to a Mac near you this July. Use your forensic skills just like the TV show characters, with whom you'll interact. If you played the first CSI game, you'll find better...

Puzzling adventure.(Got Game Entertainment releases Rhem 2.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Myst-heads looking to satisfy their cravings for a graphical adventure game that's chock-full of puzzles can sink their teeth into Rhem 2, coming this July from Got Game Entertainment. The sequel picks up where the original Rhem left off. ...

Comic-strip creator: Comic Life 1.1.1.(Entertainment/hobby software.)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Most of the software I review in Mac Gems fills a clear need, but some of it is just for fun. Case in point: Plasq's $25 Comic Life 1.1.1 (VERY GOOD 1/2; www.plasq.com), an amazingly clever app that lets you make comic-book pages, or even an...

Trash enhancer: Compost 1.6.4.(Disk and file management software.)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... OS X's Trash has two significant limitations: it doesn't empty itself, and it doesn't let you empty just part of it. The first limitation is an issue for everyone, but I find that it disproportionately affects new users, who end up with...

Dictionary: LiveDictionary.(Educational/training software.)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... These days many students spend a lot of time on the Web, because it offers unparalleled access to information on everything from core subjects to news and world events. But students--especially young ones--don't always understand what they're...

Floating calculator: Calq 1.2.1.(Mac Gems)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... One of the most useful widgets in Tiger's new Dashboard feature is the calculator. Unfortunately, people who haven't upgraded to Tiger can't take advantage of it--and some Tiger users aren't fond of Dashboard. I recently came across Katoemba...

Desktop Trash icon: SideTrash 1.1.(Desktop accessory software.)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Getting back to OS X's Trash, a frequent question I get from readers is, "How do I get the Trash icon onto the desktop?" If you're one of these people, you'll like Paolo Portaluri's free SideTrash 1.1 (GOOD 1/2; macworld.com/0569). SideTrash is...

iDisk tool: iDiskMenu 1.1.1.(Mac Gems)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... I may be in the minority, but I have more than one .Mac account, so I frequently connect to different iDisks. And when I help friends and relatives with their computers, I sometimes connect to their iDisks using their login information. OS...

Tweaks for Tiger.(Mac Gems)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Less than a week after Tiger's release, people had come up with some interesting utilities that let you customize parts of the OS--in subtle ways--to suit your preferences. Here are four worth a look (some are still in development, so the usual...

The big picture: snapping the shot is just the beginning. Here's how to prepare, print, and protect your digital photos.(usage of Apple iPhoto 5.0)
August 1, 2005... Vacation season is here. Most of us wouldn't dream of traveling this summer without our digital cameras. An underwater snorkeling adventure may last only two hours, but the photos will last a lifetime--assuming that you can find the photos...

Energize your slides.(WORKING MAC)
August 1, 2005... Do your presentations bore even you? Keynote 2, included in Apple's iWork '05 ($79; www.apple.com), offers a host of new tools that can help make your presentations more exciting and dynamic. I'll show you how to use three new features to jazz...

Better audio burning.(PLAYLIST)
August 1, 2005... iTunes is a great tool for ripping, encoding, and managing your music--and it's free--but even Apple wouldn't claim that it's the be-all and end-all for creating audio CDs. iTunes just doesn't have some advanced features. With a program such as...

See your true colors.(DIGITAL PHOTO)
August 1, 2005... With great image-editing tools such as iPhoto 5 and Adobe Photoshop, you'd think that every print would turn out perfect. But how many times have you slaved over a photo until it looked great on screen, only to have it look much different when...

Solve InDesign type trouble.(CREATE)
August 1, 2005... The make-or-break feature of any page-layout program is how it handles type. Importing, formatting, and tweaking a document's text usually accounts for the lion's share of layout work. Thanks to its elegantly designed text controls, Adobe...

Macs abroad.(MOBILE MAC)
August 1, 2005... Taking your technology on the road is hard enough. So you might think that taking it overseas is even harder. But it doesn't have to be. With a little bit of preparation, going online in Kuala Lumpur can be just about as easy as doing so in Des...

Command Spotlight.(GEEK FACTOR)(usage of Mac OS X)
August 1, 2005... You know it's there--why can't Spotlight find it? The Tiger feature that promises to be your own personal Google does have its limitations, especially when searching your Mac's most out-of-the-way corners. For greater control over the way...

Mac OS X Hints: the insiders' tips you won't get from Apple.(HELP DESK)
August 1, 2005... Create Subgroups in Address Book In both Panther (OS X 10.3) and Tiger (OS X 10.4), Address Book supports nested groups. That is, you can create a group and then place that group within another group. This is a great way to combine lists of...

Mac 911: solutions to your most vexing Mac problems.(HELP DESK)
August 1, 2005... Trimmer iPhoto Library Is there any way to make Apple's iPhoto save changes to an original photo, short of moving the altered photo completely out of the program and importing it again? For example, when I reduce red-eye, I end up with the...

Photoshop Fling[TM] 3 & MacMania[TM] IV: escape to the good life. Allow yourself to be pampered. Unwind. Have fun. Enrich your mind. And do it all aboard a luxurious cruise ship.(Calendar)
August 1, 2005... Mexican Riviera February 4th-11th, 2006 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Photoshop Fling 3/MacMania 4 During our cruise-conference, there will be four (4) three-day "tracks" offered at the same time: *...

Eizo FlexScan L997.(Our Favorite New Stuff)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... It's hard to get too worked up about a new display, but I'm pretty excited that Eizo has brought its 21.3-inch FlexScan L997 LCD to the United States. This $1,549 monitor has a fascinating set of features, including a 10-bit lookup table for...

NewsMac Pro.(Our Favorite New Stuff)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... I'm a big fan of RSS news readers, and I've been keeping my eye on ThinkMac Software's $25 NewsMac Pro since its recent release. There are many good news readers out there, but NewsMac Pro has come up with an original way to display headline...

Better backup strategy.(Our Favorite New Stuff)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Recently, the hard drive on my 15-inch Power-Book decided to give up the ghost--taking all my files with it. I realized that I couldn't always count on the skilled IT staff 400 miles away in Macworld's San Francisco office to bail me out. So...

What's hot.(Our Favorite New Stuff)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... 1 Apple announces a recall of certain laptop batteries, which the company said could overheat and catch on fire. The batteries won't be replaced but will be returned to customers with tiny sprinklers installed. 2 Apple reveals its plans to...

Mac mini hubs.(Our Favorite New Stuff)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... I love my Mac mini, but I wish it had more USB and FireWire ports. Thankfully, several companies have come to the rescue with formfitting hubs and accessories. Belkin's (www.belkin.com) white hubs provide either four additional USB 2.0 ports...

iControl.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... While using GarageBand, I've noticed that I spend a lot of time just moving and clicking my mouse to change settings. So I was intrigued by M-Audio's $180 iControl, a USB bus-powered control surface designed for GarageBand (although it will...